Stunning Street Art Brightens Seoul's Dreary Monsoon Season

By - 279 words

Language

Reading Level

Listen to Article

Photo Credit: saic.edu

Like most cities, the streets of Seoul in South Korea are usually bustling with activity. However, that changes in July when a short but intense monsoon season turns the vibrant city into a ghost town. This year, a team of artists tried to change that by transforming the typically gloomy and quiet streets into a beautiful explosion of color and life.

Photo Credit: saic.edu

'Project Monsoon' was the brainchild of Korean nationals Seunghoon Shin, Yoonshin Kim, and Nu Ri Kim, who are studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The team came up with the idea for a contest sponsored by Britain's Design and Art Direction that challenged entrants to re-imagine their hometown through the language of color.

Photo Credit: saic.edu

Working in collaboration with U.S. based paint manufacturer Pantone, the artists painted beautiful murals on the streets of Seoul. The only catch? The artwork that was inspired by the country's culture of emphasizing the importance of the flow of rivers and included multi-colored whales, turtles, and fish, was created using hydrochromic paint. The special paint remains invisible showing its true colors only when it comes in contact with water. Hence, to admire the colorful murals, the residents had no choice but to leave their homes during wet weather.

Photo Credit: saic.edu

To make citizens aware of the treat awaiting them, the artists installed digital billboards and also created a website complete with the geo-location of each mural. There is no word on whether Project Monsoon succeeded in convincing Seoul residents to venture out on wet days. However, it did win the creators, two of the world's most prestigious honors for upcoming artists - The D&AD New Blood Yellow and Black Pencil Awards.

Resources: Dailymail.co.uk, saic.edu, huffingtonpost.com

Cite Article
Geography
Learn Keywords in this Article
262 Comments
  • kimmy007
    Ms. Kelloggabout 8 years
    love it
    • vivamexico
      vivamexicoabout 8 years
      Beautiful art!
      • clarabout 8 years
        this is really good
        • DEad giirlabout 8 years
          I really like the inviroment and the colors they used its really pretty. I wish they could do that in my town.
          • Sciencegirl13about 8 years
            I bet there are a lot of talented South Koreans who took place in this street art , and Monsoon Season is really rainy.
            • Mr. AWSOMEover 8 years
              so cool
              • munozkim000
                munozkim000over 8 years
                so so so so so so so so so so so so cool!!!!!!!
                • Gregover 8 years
                  Soooooooo coooool😍😍
                  • blankover 8 years
                    SOOOOOOOO Beutiful
                    • blankover 8 years
                      Very Beautiful for street art #loving it