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황두진 |
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YEAREND 2006 |
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Hi. For those fresh on the mailing list, let me tell you that this year-end letter has become a sort of ritual for me, having practiced it for a number of years so far. The choice of English language is only haphazard; don't give it a damn. So here is my story.
I. Overall Review
: Just as Frank Sinatra once sang, '......it was a very good year......' To be able to say this at the end of the year makes me feel happy and grateful.
II. Top 5 News of 2006 (Not ordered in importance)
Renovation of the Magnolia Court
: Both my home and office moved to our current place near Gyeongbok Palace in 2002 (during the Korea/Japan World Cup Games); 4 years have passed and we were finally able to renovate the 30-something year old house.
: During the months of August and September, we literally lived and worked in the middle of a construction site. The outcome is quite rewarding; our garden is now more refined and spacious, the office and the home have swapped floors so that the office is now on the ground floor, while the home enjoys quietude and privacy. You are always welcome to visit.
Another book and yet another......
: Exactly one year ago, my first book, 'Where is Your Seoul?' came to this world. It has been warmly received so far: it made to the Books of the Year List by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the 2nd print was made.
: My second book, 'Hanok Is Back' has just hit the bookstores, on- and off-line. It is a revised collection of 10 articles I contributed to the Space magazine since 2005. The overall process took a little less than 2 years ; now I can finally afford to take weekends off!
: I feel a little strange to say this, but my 3rd book is also on its way, due to be released early 2007. It is a children's book about late Kim, Soogeun, a famous Korean architect and cultural icon of 1970s. It was originally meant to be THE first book of mine, but numerous delays and reworks have made it No. 3.
: Now I really feel awkward to add that yet another book, for which I am one of the co-authors, will come out early 2007. This is a case-study book on renovated hanoks and is sponsored by the Cultural Properties Administration.
: You can call me crazy now, since I'm going to tell you that I also co-authored a book, commissioned by the Seoul Metropolitan Government; it's a book about the city of Seoul and its architecture. I am responsible for a chapter titled, 'the Historic City'. The book will be published God knows when in 2007.
Design this, design that......
: I've been a believer of the Bauhaus credo of architecture being all-encompassing, supreme form of art and design. 2006 has been special in that I have achieved some recognition as a designer outside the architectural community.
: First, the Finlandia Table, which I designed for the Social, a wine bar and restaurant, in 2002 and have since used for many other projects, is now copyright-protected by the Korean Intellectual Property Office.
: Second, the KAO chair, which I originally designed and built in 1993 in the US, was reborn in early 2006, in 100% titanium, perhaps the first of its kind in the world!. I submitted it to the Furniture by Architects show at the Lock Museum; the show was a big success and the chair was purchased by no other than the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea. The KAO chair is also slated to be copyright-protected in the form of design patent.
: I have built good working relationship with the Lock Museum in Daehangno. A month ago they gave a show called 'Men's Accessories'; I submitted a metal neck-tie, called the KAO Tie, KAO being a sort of brand name for everything in metal I design lately. To my great surprise the neck tie actually did SELL! It is $100 each and delivery time is about a week. Wanna try?
New market opportunities
: Finally, architecture. The year 2006 will be remembered as a historic stepping stone for my architectural practice. So far our business has been done 100% in private, domestic market. In 2006, we have started to do business in new territories: government and overseas. We are now conducting a policy development research project to promote hanoks in the future; on the other hand, we are now earning dollars, working for a global financial company entering the Korean market. The dollar rate happens to work against us now, but it has a symbolic value and we couldn't care less. Perhaps we have contributed to the amazing achievement of the country's $300,000,000,000 export this year?
: Another exciting opportunity is coming from the other side of the earth: Germany. My company was selected, along with 15 other architectural offices, to participate in the 'Megacity Network' show in the renowned Deutshces Architektur Museum in Frankfurt, practically the first full-blown architectural exhibition by Korean contemporary architects at a major European cultural institution. We were also asked to design the exhibition itself, a big honor for us indeed. The world's most local architect is now going global!
: We continue to work in the historic Bukchon area. In this year alone, we finished 3 projects there, including Gaghoeheon, the Bukchon branch of Wood & Brick, one of the oldest Italian restaurateurs in town.
: Next year we hope to do more experiment with hanoks and do more works in public and cultural sector.
Back the the Heartland of My Life......,
: In the middle of doing all those things, there are moments when I feel like listening to myself to find out who I am and what I want in life. I start to feel that there's more to life than getting things many done. Perhaps I should allow myself to indulge in certain things that are simply fun and nothing else? We will see in 2007.
: The realization is probably the best news in 2006 in that it's about what is going to happen in the future.
III. Family News
: It's been 2 years and several months since my father passed away. My mother seems to hang on pretty well, though she seems to weaken day by day. Hope she will enjoy many more happy years to come.
: Both my sister Okon and brother Dongjin and their respective families are all doing fine. Okon actually hand a new baby girl, Yeon, in 2006; my sister's 40-something years old and we are happy to know that the mother and the baby are all healthy. Dongjin is now with a new bio-technology company and seems to be doing fine.
: As for Hyunjoo, my wife, 2006 was another busy year, giving concerts and taking care of many matters at home, which sometimes verged on being too demanding, with me doing all sorts of things all the time. Thank you for everything, sorry for everything......
IV. Good Things in Life
: For books, try 'The Life of Pi' by Yanne Martel. It's a story of an Indian boy who, after a shipwreck, happens to spend many months in a rescue boat with an adult Bengal tiger. An almost magical storyline, and the writing is equally fascinating.
: For movies, my recommendation goes to 'the Host'; I heard about it, waited for it, liked it and even wrote an article about it for a movie magazine. I am slated to meet with the director Bong early 2007. Looking forward to it a lot.
: Finally, food and drink. There is a very tiny Japanese-Korean izakaya in Kwanghwamun area called Hyangheon. They serve many nice dishes and most importantly, smile a lot.
So that's it for 2006. The letter is rather long and overdue (it's 12:19, on the New Year's Day, 2007!), but hope you enjoy it and I promise another at the end of this year. Happy New Year, everyone!
Doojin |
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2007-01-01 00:22:15 / 211.110.53.157 |
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