Theme: Sense

We accept the world through our senses. We recognize the cold wind and white snow piled up in winter by senses. In other words, the world we live is composed of the framework of senses such as sight and hearing. However, nowadays people are searching for more various senses in a different way than before. A new form of ear- stimulating content called ASMR(Autonomous sensory meridian response) appeared and slimes that stimulate the sense of touch are becoming popular among adults. Therefore, we hope we can talk about the diversity of sense and how sense is used in our world (magic, perfume, etc.).

MoA
1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
MoA
Gwanak-gu, Seoul Teugbyeolsi, 08826
South Korea

Ildong Kim

Pop artist

Human beings imagine based on their sense. Plane was invented because we can see birds, and the attempts to travel the universe started from the night sky we see every day. As a result, we are living in a society that is more advanced than ever with the imagination. In other words, we can say that the modern society came from our imagination. However, the imagination of the individual conflicts each other, creating many problems. Ironically, we are locked by the modern society system which makes us convenient, too. Pop artist Kim Il-dong says the problems created by imagination can again be solved by imagination. Pop artist Kim Il-dong shows his own imagination through his paintings and criticize our modern society system. Through his own experiences, we hope we can think about our sense and how to unleash our imagination.

JaeWon Kim

Undergraduate student of SNU

Most people at most times use all five senses to interpret the world. However, did you know that there are some people who cannot imagine images in their minds? These kinds of people are not having difficulties with their five senses, but still, are lack of one basic sense what ordinary people usually have. Our speaker JaeWon Kim looks like a normal undergraduate and yes, everything in her life is just the same as others – except for her mind’s eye. She can’t recall any single image in her mind, even if something she saw a moment ago. This kind of symptom is called “aphantasia” and this has only recently discovered by researchers in 2013. Kim says this kind of constitution definitely caused some inconvenience in her life, for example, made harder for her to remember and memorize precious things precisely. However, she thinks that being a person who has a closed mind’s eye is a unique thing because she can interpret this world somewhat different, maybe, more special.

Minho Park

Magician

The law of gravity, the law of thermodynamics. As the world follows numerous laws, an apple cannot bounce like a rubber ball. By common sense, a card cannot change to a pigeon. However, magic twists our common sense and show a new illusion. An apple CAN bounce like a rubber ball, and a card CAN change to a pigeon. Magician Minho Park will talk about magical thinking - how magicians design these illusions. At first, magicians need to understand the stereotypes people have. After breaking the stereotype, magicians need to break the ‘short cut’. People usually think in a simplest way; if an apple can bounce, then people will expect it is an apple-shaped rubber ball. By showing it is a real apple, people will surprise more and believe in magic. Likewise, finding the stereotype and shortcut and twisting those is the sense magicians have. By listening to the idea of magician Minho Park, we will be able to look back on common sense and find new senses of our own.

Seongmin Lee

Perfumer

We usually think of scents as a result of our sense of smell. However, contrary to our piecemeal understanding, scent is a force which has the power of getting across endless stories. Perfumer Seongmin Lee, based on his rich experience spoke about this effect of fragrance. As he himself was comforted by perfume when he was going through difficult times as a young man, he has been making emotionally sympathetic fragrances that console the minds of others. In other words, Seongmin’s perfume contains the story of our lives. Furthermore, Seongmin has also created the “unification fragrance (Tongil fragrance)" with those whose hometown is North Korea. This fragrance contains their sense of nostalgia. Seongmin’s perfume not only conveys stories of us individuals but also stories which have social significance. His ‘ideas worth spreading’ about scents let our understanding of senses be even wide and our lives even ‘aromatic’.