DANakaDAN | Artist Spotlight

I usually run across interesting topics on Buzzfeed but this particular article highlighting Asian American artists called, “Asian-American Artists Discuss How Art Has Changed Their Lives“, really stood out to me, specifically when it got to DANakaDAN. I recently watched a short interview about him on YouTube discussing his life as a Korean-American adoptee and the many struggles he faced growing up, as well as how he wants to help the adoptee community. Though I’m not adopted, I think his passion is inspiring and beautiful.

One part that stood out to me was when he was talking about his biological family. He reunited with them and found out he has a twin brother and the two of them are very similar in a lot of ways. They are both very passionate about music, specifically hip-hop.

“One of the more interesting outcomes that I like to think that pursuing art has led me to was meeting my biological family, including an identical twin brother I never knew about. We met about three years ago, and most interestingly enough, he too was a rapper. It’s crazy to think how DNA could impact something like that, especially within two different people raised simultaneously in different parts of the world.”

I especially appreciate his response when asked about his influence on his community saying simply,

“I believe that through producing the videos that I’ve been proud to do through ISAtv, we’ve been able to support many up-and-coming or undiscovered artists in our community and give them a platform to have their voice be heard.”

He goes on to discuss the voice he’s given to not only Asian-Americans, but also adoptees.

“One of our goals from the beginning was always to be a hub where up-and-coming artists could feel empowered and discovered. On the adoptee side, I believe that through the Korean adoptee documentary I made and the music I’ve produced, it’s given a voice to a community that’s seldom heard.”

I think the full article is worth checking out. He’s an amazing artist and his story is one of hope and acceptance. Regardless of your background, you can follow your passion and you can become a beacon for those who are striving to do what you do.

Ceramic Art | Korean Ceramics Culture [video]

Okay, so it’s been a while since I’ve done one of these right? I think the last time I talked about art was when I was discussing either soju or tattooing. Both equally interesting topics!

But today, I’m talking about a forgotten art. This artwork was once upon a time one of the greatest forms of artistic expression, dating back centuries. To an outsider, it looks like pottery but to a craftsman, an artist… it’s so much more.

The American Museum of Ceramic Art put together a video that not only showcases ceramic arts but also celebrates the craft and the artists behind the skill, Lee Hyang-Gu, You Yong-Chul, Choi In-Gyu, and Jo Se-Yeon. It is taken from a 2013 exhibition entitled Icheon: Reviving the Korean Ceramics. 

“…The American Museum of Ceramic Art is honored to present ICHEON: Reviving the Korean Ceramics Tradition, an unprecedented exhibition organized by Icheon, South Korea. Icheon has a history of ceramic culture that began over 5000 years ago and has a reputation for its internationally renowned ceramics cultural events… The works on display represent the rich Korean ceramics culture and the modern advances Icheon ceramists continue to make in developing ceramic art of the future. As a leader in traditional crafts, Icheon’s ceramics have become sought after works of art and are deeply-seated in Korea’s local economy. The city’s vital role in ceramics has made it possible for Icheon to become the best and largest center in Korea’s crafts today. Icheon is the home of over 350 studios and potteries that specialize in traditional, contemporary, and high-tech applications of the ceramic body.”

(source: American Museum of Ceramic Art)

The video is beautifully done and the final product is amazing! Check it out below and also click the link to find out more about culture and the art.

 

 

Beauty Bible | Nature-Friendly Natural Cosmetics (video)

This clip is about a year old but, in my mind, even though products do change with each season, the tips in the video still hold true.

I didn’t do a special Friday post, but that didn’t exclude a surprise Sunday post! Isn’t it more fun when you least expect it?

I wanted to highlight this because I personally have been moving more and more towards all natural cosmetics. I have to be careful of the products I pick due to allergy reasons, however, I still seek them out more. But a lot of people are a bit apprehensive about them like I once was. Are they useful? Will they blend naturally? Will they look okay on my skin? It’s a lot of “what ifs” and it doesn’t help that these products can be pretty expensive. This video will probably answer a lot of your questions and will really help you for those you working on blending.

For those wondering, I have been using products from the company Pacifica. It’s an all natural company that has make-up, skincare, etc. I only use it for skincare products for now because that’s as far as I’ve gotten in my all natural journey but so far I like them. I’m not vegan but I do like these products. They’ve done a great job at cleansing my skin but I do combine them with my acne facial wash, Burts Bees exfoliator, and Dickinson witch hazel toner because I honestly don’t see them doing that much for my acne or evening my skin tone. But they are a great cleanser and make-up remover!

I don’t know if they’re available in your country but I know I found them in different stores like Sephora or Ulta. And you can also order them online.

Okay, on to the video!

You’ll notice in the video, she does a lot of the application with her hands vs brushes… remember, your hands are your best tools when applying make-up too!

Popular Beauty Products | Should You Really Try These Korean Brands?

Hey my beautiful people!

Before I begin:

1. This is not a product placement post.
2. I am not in any way, shape, or form sponsored nor was I asked to do this post. 
3. This is not advertisement.

If you’re anything like me, when it comes to make-up, you may hear so much about a product and then head to Sephora to find it and try it out. I heard so much about NARS that I actually went out and spent $30 on concealer. Never in my life did I ever imagine I would spend that much on concealer or even $20 on Tarte matte lipstick based on reviews… but I did and I have no regrets.

But maybe you’ve heard a lot about the beauty products your favorite kpop star or K-drama actor/actress swears by! Should you try it? Is it worth the try? I ran across this video from one of my favorite vloggers “Straight Outta Australia”. This is part 1 but if you’re interested in hearing more, she has a link to a part 2.

Products mentioned in this video:

• BANILA CO | Clean It Zero
• April Skin | BB Cushion
• GELPRESSO | Water-proof pencil
• Etude House | play 101 pencil
• Snail Products

Personally, I actually liked reviews of these products.

But I will say this about the April Skin BB Cushion, I used to buy BB Cream and use it, but it always felt like something sitting on my skin never actually blending in. After searching and searching for a BB Cream that worked, I saw people talking a lot about bareMinerals so I decided to try it. It’s called bareMinerals Complexion Rescue and I have to say, I love it! (link if you’re interested) This is not a Korean product but I do really like it. I use it as a foundation and I definitely forget I even have it on. It’s great on my skin and I’m more than willing to keep paying the money to replace it when it runs out. So I don’t think I’ll be trying out the April Skin, but U will give the other products a try. I’ve been looking for a new make-up remove for like 8 months now. (Long time…)

My advice before trying out any product, see if it’s available in stores like Sephora first so you can go in and match your shade with the samples they have laying out and also to see if you have a reaction to it. If you try it on a small patch of skin first, you’ll know before the end of the day whether or not you’ll have a bad reaction to it and then if you haven’t already bought it, you can avoid disaster. But if you did buy it, you can return it before you open it.

Anyway, check out meejmuse’s video below. What do you think? Are these products really worth the hype?

Chill Mix for Studying

So you guys remember when I used to highlight new music I was listening to? Usually K-pop… well lately, I’ve been listening to a lot more chill music. It really helps me calm down and focus.

I usually use Apple Music now because I like that the playlists update daily and I get to listen to new artists constantly. But, Spotify has some really nice playlists too. (Or maybe you’re a YouTube person. Type: Lofi Kpop or Chill Kpop – you’re welcome!)

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. I’ll be highlighting new artists that I’m listening to again soon too!

BORAN (보란)

Okay, so I needed to update these music videos like yesterday!!! Haha!

Here’s an artist I just started listening to and I’m definitely becoming a fan. Hopefully you’ll like the music too.

Reading and Listening in Korean Practice | iKON-ON: Bobby & Ju-Ne ‘깊은 밤’ MAKING FILM

Okay so I was just scrolling through YouTube today when I ran across this video. Normally, I kinda just watch them and then move on to find some more new music but I noticed something about this video that I really wanted to share with you guys.

Maybe you’ve been searching for ways to practice reading in Korean or even working on your listening but the things you’ve been finding aren’t all that interesting or maybe they’re not something you would use in everyday speech. Well, this is a video I thought would be helpful.

Sometimes I find makeup tutorials like this and share them when I find them because for the beauty gurus that follow me but also want to practice Korean, it’s super helpful! And this is no different, especially if you’re a fan of iKON.

The video is completely in Korean but it has built-in subtitles, that are in Korean to help you follow along if you’re working on listening and/or reading. To help you out some for words you may not understand, just click the CC button for English translation. This video is also subtitled in Japanese so you can switch to that translation as well.

Challenge:

Try to watch it first without the subtitles and then go back again with the CC on and see how much you understood!

New Music Update! | [Videos]

I haven’t done one of these in a while and since I spent a good portion of the afternoon just listening to a lot of music and watching music videos, I decided to share some of my favorite new music so far!