Korean designs capture New Yorkers` hearts

(ATTN: photos available)
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Feb. 25 (Yonhap) -- Recognizing young and talented designers from Seoul,
New York's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) will be exclusively selling their
whimsical works as part of its "Design: Destination" project, the museum said on
its Web site Wednesday.
The MoMA design store chose the South Korean capital as the sixth destination of
design feature project, which first opened in 2005 and is held twice every year.
It has already showcased designs from five cities including Tokyo, Berlin and
Buenos Aires.
The current collection covers various quirky knick-knacks usually sold only in
Korea -- a spoon-shaped bottle opener, mini replicas of mixed-rice dishes known
as bibimbap, cloud-shaped memo pads and sandwich-shaped sponges.
While contemporary, the items also portray something of Korea: the cloud memo
pad, designed by Ju Mi-jung, features Korea's traditional color stripes, while
the spoon-shaped bottle opener, designed by the group "Second Hotel," depicts the
common practice here of opening beer bottles with spoons when a bottle opener
isn't readily available.
The pieces range in price from US$3 to $108 and can be purchased at the MoMA
store in New York's SoHo district, or at the gallery's online store. All of the
75 products encompassing housewares, toys, books and accessories, are being
exclusively sold through MoMA.
"Our new product collection highlights products usually found only in South
Korea," the MoMA store announced on its Web site. "The selection reflects Korea's
cultural interest in color and nature and puts a modern spin on traditional
Korean design and crafting."
Dozens of comments have appeared on the Web site, describing the designs as
"tongue-in-cheek goodies," "smitten" and "heart-snatchers."
Bonnie Mackay, the creative and marketing director of MoMA Retail, called Korean
designs a "delightful surprise."
"We were aware of Korea's superb cars and electric devices, but never realized it
had so many talented designers with brilliant ideas," she said.
Prof. Na Kun of the International Design Trend Center, who was among the judges
that selected designers to participate in the project, called the objects
"down-to-earth."
"MoMA aims for designs that are not just a joy to the eyes, but are practical in
real life," he said. "Each of these goods tells a story that is very contemporary
and traditionally Korean at the same time."
"Destination: Seoul" was developed in collaboration with South Korea's Hyundai
Card, the Korea Institute of Design Promotion and Design Seoul Headquarters of
the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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