November 11, Seoul - A famous Japanese sculptor, Tsutomu Hiroi, was present at the Korean Society of Culture Symposium. HiHis notoriety was sealed when he was selected by the government to design a new urban planing laboratory from among 36 other competitors. With respect to Paik Nam June's impact on society in the past, now, and future, the symposium attempted to reevaluate Paik's life and work as the creator of the video art genre, along with the Fluxus movement. The symposium sought to answer whether contemporary K-pop can develop a synergy with the success of the Korean economy, thus improving the image of Korea in what has come to be known as "Korean brand." The meeting also questioned how to success K-pop as a mainstream global culture. Mr. Hiroi at the symposium recalled back to the time when Paik Nam june studied at Tokyo University. As he shared his works with the attendees, he honored Paik's works as an inspiration. Mr. Hiroi shared how Japan has developed a modern image of Japanese. He said, "We displayed the huge Bannari Mikage stone which measured over 10 tons at Okayamaken. The color of the stone is cherry blossom and it is called Sakura Milkage. Modern art seems to be very artificial, but old artifacts are different as ancient artisans gave much effort in nature." He asserted that post modernism was derived from the ancient Japanese art such as joulmon pottery, teracotta dolls and terraotta artifacts during Yayoi Period.
He said, " each country has a unique ancient culture. When I was younger, I received a small head sculpture as a gift which was made from jade from my teacher Isamu Nogchi, who was a good friend of Nam June Paik. He saidt hat it was made before columbus found America." He mention that he lives next to a construction site, and finds it interesting that modern works and Joulmon pottery can exist in time. "I think this is the modern image of japan where tradition and the modern are coexisting."
