Reliving Childhood Fun at Museums
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Gone are the days when cartoons and comic books were for kids. Men and women, both young and old from all over the world now enjoy the pleasure of comic books, cartoon characters and animated films and series.
Korean ``manhwa'' or comics is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, with a special exhibition at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.
There are also exhibitions, featuring popular characters like Hello Kitty and Miffy, and cult favorite doll Blythe, which promise to be not only educational but also fun for everyone.
100 Years of Manhwa
Move over Japanese manga, it's now Korean manhwa's turn to make its presence felt around the world.
The Asia-wide hit drama series ``Princess Hours,'' starring Yun Eun-hye and Joo Ji-hun, was based on a popular manhwa by Park So-hee called ``Palace Story.'' Hyung Min-woo's ``Priest,'' a fusion of Western and supernatural horror genres, is being turned into a Hollywood film starring Paul Bettany and Cam Gigandet.
To mark the centennial of Korean manhwa, the National Museum of Contemporary Art is holding an exhibition ``100 Years of Korean Comics,'' through Aug. 23.
Museum officials have described the event as the biggest ever exhibition tracing the long history of Korean manhwa. It features 1,500 pieces by 250 artists, including some rare comics from the 1930s, and even manhwa-inspired art by Korean artists.
The first section takes viewers back in time to when the first comic strip made by Lee Do-young was published in the Daehan Minbo on June 2, 1909. Lee is considered the first Korean comic artist.
There are also some satirical comics published during the Japanese occupation (1910-45), and after the liberation, cartoons started becoming more popular.
However, in the 1970s, the government considered comic books as a distraction for students and copies were burned. Comics came back with a vengeance in the 80s and 90s, with hits like Lee Hyun-sae's ``The Fearsome Baseball Team,'' which is the basis for the current MBC drama ``Strike Love.''
The future of comic books can also be seen with the growing popularity of Webtoons or cartoons on the Internet, such as ``Marine Blues'' by Jeong Cheol-yeon.
The second section showcases manhwa of different genres, such as kids' comics, newspaper comic strips and romantic comics for girls.
The last section shows how contemporary Korean artists have incorporated elements of manhwa and cartoon characters, like the popular Korean robot Taekwon V, in their artworks.
Aside from the exhibition, there are scheduled storytelling sessions, comic book drawing classes and animated film screenings.
To get to the museum, get off at Seoul Grand Park Station Line 4, Exit 4. A free shuttle bus to the museum is available. Tickets are 3,000 won. Visit www.moca.go.kr or call (02) 2188-6232.
Always Cute Hello Kitty
How can a cartoon cat with an oversized head, button eyes, no mouth and a blank look become a global pop icon worth almost half a billion dollars?
``Inside Kitty: Hello Kitty 35 Years of Art & Design Exhibition'' is currently ongoing at the Seongnam Art Center, Yatab-dong.
According to the book ``Hello Kitty: The Remarkable Story of Sanrio and the Billion Dollar Feline Phenomenon'' by Ken Velson and Brian Bremner, Japanese company Sanrio Ltd. created Hello Kitty in 1974. The first Kitty product, a clear vinyl coin purse with the word ``Hello!'' printed above the cat's small head, was released in 1975.
Based on Sanrio lore, Kitty's full name is Kitty White, born in London, weighs the same as three apples, has a twin sister named Mimmy, and loves Mom's apple pie.
The exhibition features vintage Kitty items, as well as art works and interactive pieces made by 40 Korean artists and designers to allow the viewers to get closer look at Kitty through the years.
Korean artists incorporated the cute feline in their artworks. Some were edgy, like ``Spooky Kitty'' by Park Ji-hyuk featuring photographs of a naked baby holding a Kitty mask, or Kim Hyeon-seong's photograph of a young girl wearing a Kitty bra and tiny shorts. Zinoo Park's work features the G8 Leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and then U.S. President George W. Bush holding Kitty-shaped balloons.
One section features Kitty and her friends in masterpieces like Pierre-Auguste Renoir's ``Young Girls at the Piano,'' Claude Monet's ``Women with a Parasol,'' and Edgar Degas' ``Dancer on Stage.''
Hello Kitty even became more popular in the 1990s because of collaborations with designers and brands like Anna Sui, Tokidoki, Migi&Tash, Asics, Waterman and Courreges. On display are limited edition Hello Kitty-wearing Barbie dolls, Kitty wearing various national costumes, Kitty-print sneakers, a pink Fender guitar and the undeniably cute Kitty handbags and accessories. Too bad none of the items are for sale.
Not surprisingly, the exhibition does not attract only moms and their children, but also young women who love the Kitty brand.
Children will have fun playing with the interactive games, and even making their own Hello Kitty badges at the workshop. Everyone will go crazy taking pictures with the giant Hello Kitty stuffed toy.
To get there, get off Imae Station, Bundang Line, Exit 1. The Seongnam Art Center is a 10-minute walk. Tickets are 15,000 won. Visit www.insidekitty.co.kr (Korean).
Miffy, the Rabbit
Miffy, the adorable rabbit in the picture books by Dick Bruna, has delighted children since she was created in 1955 in the Netherlands.
Miffy, described as ``children's eternal friend,'' celebrated her 50th birthday in 2005, with exhibitions around the world.
Now, the exhibition ``Miffy at the Museum,'' travels to Seoul next month, and hopes to bring Miffy closer to Korean fans. The exhibition runs July 2 to Aug. 20 at Hangaram Design Museum, Seoul Arts Center,
Her original Dutch name is Nijntje, taken from the children's pronunciation of ``konijntje'' that means ``little rabbit.'' Miffy is drawn in a simple, minimalist style, with just one or two colors.
Bruna's Miffy books are about simple situations that all children can relate to, and include characters like Miffy's parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle and friends like Boris and Barbara Bear. The books have been translated into 40 languages, and sold over 80 million copies throughout the world.
The cute Miffy character can also be found in a children's show and on merchandise like clothes, toys and other items.
Tickets are 15,000 won. It is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call (02) 580-1705 or visit www.sac.or.kr.
Fashionable Blythe Dolls
Blythe dolls are a favorite of many young women and doll collectors, who express their individuality and creativity with the dolls.
At the Coreana Museum of Art's Open Gallery, an exhibition called ``Meet the Blythe'' is currently running through July 12. Around 120 Blythe dolls collected by Kim Yun-seon since 2002 are on display.
Allison Katzman created the Blythe doll for American toy company Kenner in 1972, but it was sold for only one year in the U.S. due to lackluster sales. Interest in Blythe was revived when a TV commercial for Parco department store featured the Blythe doll in 2000. In 2001, they released an 11-inch Neo-Blythe doll, Parco Limited Edition was released, and the following year, the Petite Blythe, a 4 1/2 inch doll was introduced.
Collectors of Blythe dolls love dressing up their dolls in stylish outfits, often customized, and taking photographs of the dolls in scenic spots. These highly sought-after Blythe dolls can sell from the original price of $60 to up to thousands of dollars for the vintage Blythe dolls produced by Kenner.
The exhibition in Seoul also features photographs of charming Blythe dolls in different places around the world, with unique themes.
Coreana Museum of Art is five-minute walk from Apgujeong Station Subway Line 3, Exit 3. Visit www.spacec.co.kr or call (02) 547-9177.