The Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles, under the direction of Haedon Lee, is hosting an innovative media art exhibition titled 'Tradition in Motion: Korean Culture through Media Arts,' which opened on September 4th. This groundbreaking exhibition presents a unique fusion of Korea's traditional culture and contemporary daily life through cutting-edge digital technology.
The exhibition takes place simultaneously at two prestigious venues: the Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles and the LA Korea Center. It showcases an impressive collection of fusion works that seamlessly blend Korean traditional culture and art with the latest technological innovations, including digital media, immersive experiences, and artificial intelligence. The sensory and visually striking media art pieces are displayed on giant high-definition LED screens, offering visitors an entirely fresh perspective on Korea's traditional culture and modern daily life through an immersive experience that feels like traveling through Korea itself.
This remarkable exhibition combines artistic creativity, advanced media art techniques, and cutting-edge digital screen technology, making it a rare opportunity to vividly and sensorially introduce Korea's representative cultural heritage and the everyday lives of modern Koreans to the local Los Angeles audience. The media art exhibition runs daily during the Korean Cultural Center's operating hours across both venues, featuring a total of twelve carefully curated media art works.
At the Korean Cultural Center's Media Art Wall on the first floor, four works centered on traditional culture and cultural heritage come alive as captivating, sensory digital landscapes. The first piece, 'Traditional Korean Instruments,' presents stunning three-dimensional representations of traditional Korean musical instruments, including the saenghwang, unra, and wolgeum. 'Feast of Color' highlights the delicate beauty of Korean traditional crafts, showcasing hwagakjang (lacquerware), moon jars, gilt-bronze incense burners, and exquisite jade crafts. 'Beyond Korean Folk Painting' reinterprets Joseon Dynasty folk paintings with vivid brushstrokes and humorous visuals, breathing new life into beloved Korean folktales that have captivated audiences for generations.
Particularly noteworthy is the AI media art piece 'Timeless Legacy,' sponsored by the Korea Heritage Agency. This immersive anamorphic (horizontally elongated) media art work uses sophisticated particle expression techniques to depict the creation process of traditional crafts made from natural materials such as clay, fire, wood, and metal—including ceramics, wooden furniture, inlay work, and embroidery. Through this innovative approach, the elegance and beauty of Korean traditional crafts are reborn through sophisticated digital technology and refined modern sensibility, offering visitors an unprecedented level of visual immersion and artistic experience.
The Media Art Gallery at the LA Korea Center primarily features works focusing on the daily lives of contemporary Koreans and popular culture. One of the most impressive pieces, 'Hello KCCLA,' displays colorful traditional Korean dancheong patterns rising majestically above the Los Angeles skyline, greeting visitors with the warm Korean phrase 'Annyeonghaseyo' (Hello). 'Lantern Festival' digitally recreates a vibrant parade set against historic palaces and traditional streets, drawing inspiration from Korea's traditional Buddhist lantern festival, Yeondeunghoe.
'Whispers of Korea' guides viewers on an enchanting subway journey through iconic landmarks in Seoul, including the historic Gwanghwamun, scenic Namsan, and trendy Seongsu-dong. 'Sense of Wonder' expresses the noble charm and elegance of Korea through traditional dance performed by a graceful dancer clothed in beautiful hanbok. 'The Wind from the East' presents a poetic series that begins with Korea's five cardinal colors (obangsaek), continues with masterful ink paintings of pine trees and plum blossoms, and concludes with a radiant wave of light, offering visitors a deep appreciation of traditional Korean painting techniques and aesthetics.
'Play K-Music,' a K-POP music video created with artificial intelligence, provides visitors with a virtual concert experience featuring a surreal yet immersive AI-enhanced virtual idol group that demonstrates the innovative intersection of technology and Korean popular culture. The final piece, 'Red Soul of Korea,' dynamically traces the fascinating birth of traditional Korean sauces—including chili pepper and meju (fermented soybean blocks)—and their transformation into beloved popular dishes like tteokbokki and Korean-style fried chicken, celebrating the rich culinary heritage that has become globally recognized.
