star struck with star trek stars!

Stars Share 'Star Trek' Secrets

From left, actress Zoe Saldana, director J.J. Abrams and actor Chris Pine talk about their up-coming film ``Star Trek: The Beginning,'' during a press conference at CGV Apgujeong, southern Seoul, Wednesday.

/ Courtesy of CJ Entertainment

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Legions of devoted Star Trek fans, or ``Trekkies,'' as they are known, are already eagerly awaiting the release of ``Star Trek: The Beginning'' in May. But director J.J. Abrams, a self-confessed non-Trekkie, admitted the film was made not specifically for them but for ``future fans'' of Star Trek.

``I can never predict what an audience wants and will want, but the best test is if I want to see it. As someone who is not a fan of Star Trek, this movie was not made for fans of Star Trek. It was made for future fans of Star Trek. It was made for people who enjoy movies and having a thrilling emotional, pulse-pounding experience,'' Abrams said during a press conference at CGV Apgujeong, Wednesday.

Abrams, along with the film's lead actors Chris Pine, who plays James T. Kirk, and Zoe Saldana, who plays Uhura, were in town to promote the film.

``Star Trek: The Beginnings'' is a prequel to the original Star Trek series, tracing Kirk's roots as a rebellious young man picking up girls and getting into bar fights, then as a cadet at the Starfleet Academy and finally as a member of the USS Enterprise.

Four key scenes in the movie were previewed for the first time, including the thrilling opening battle sequence and another showing a drunk Kirk flirting with Uhura at a bar. However, it was the action-packed scene showing Kirk and Sulu (played by John Cho) jumping into space that really whetted the audience's appetite.

``At the beginning of the movie, the character (Kirk) is completely lost. By the end of the film, he has accepted a challenge, rose to the occasion and found a family, Spock, Sulu, Uhura, Bones and Scotty. For the first time for me, I understand who they are and why they care about each other. This is a massive story of friendship, family, loyalty and huge action and adventure,'' Abrams said in a separate interview at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Daechi-dong, southern Seoul.

Pine, a good-looking actor with piercing blue eyes who first attracted attention in ``Princess Diaries 2,'' took the role very seriously and made sure he wasn't just impersonating the original Kirk, William Shatner.

In an interview with reporters, Pine said that after he got the part, he wrote to Shatner assuring him that he ``wasn't trying to usurp his position as the best James Kirk.''

To prepare for the role, he started watching the original Star Trek series feverishly, but realized halfway through the second season that it wasn't helping.

``J.J.'s prescription for realizing the role, this was for all of us, was to do justice to what was done before and to pick up those characteristics to what we deemed would be essential to our characters and to essentially create our own roles, basically to have fun with it and don't think so much about obeying the laws of the Star Trek world,'' Pine said.

Saldana was pleased to play a strong female character like Uhura. ``With Uhura, I like that she is able to commit herself to so much discipline and strength in a masculine environment and be able to fulfill her job in a very androgynous manner,'' she said.

Having created and produced popular TV series ``Lost'' and ``Alias,'' Abrams knows how important the fans are to the success of any project. When he took on the project, he was aware of the immense pressure to make a movie that would please the Trekkies, but also appeal to a new, wider audience. Luckily, one of the scriptwriters, Robert Orci was a big Trekkie.

``You can't go against what the fans know and love. ... You can never go against what came before but then don't be so loyal to the old Star Trek that you make something that's been seen before because that would be a disaster,'' Abrams said.

Pine seemed prepared to handle whatever reaction the die-hard Star Trek fans have about the film. ``There are some people who are not ready to see the new faces of the series and that's totally fine. We think what we've made is pretty special. Hopefully people will see what it's all about,'' he said.

The film has yet to be released, but Abrams left the door open for future sequels. ``It is the beginning of these characters' lives and I would love to see these characters live on,'' he said.

When asked if he would consider casting ``Lost'' star Kim Yun-jin in a future Star Trek film, Abrams immediately replied, ``Yes. I adore Yunjin. ... So when I say yes, I'm not joking. I think she's the greatest. If she'll be part of it, we would be better for it.''

``Star Trek: The Beginning'' also stars ``Heroes'' Zachary Quinto as Spock and Eric Bana as Nero. It opens May 7 in Korea.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

cheap but chic

Cheap but Chic: Vintage Shopping in Seoul

Romantic vintage accessories can be found at Romiwa, a store specializing in vintage clothing and shoes, located in Hongdae.

/ Korea Times Photos by Cathy Rose A. Garcia

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia, Hwang Sung-hee
Staff Reporter

Vintage shopping, according to Project Runway's Tim Gunn, ``used to be the turf of the eccentric and bohemian.''

``The idea of wearing old clothes was simply not mainstream. It wasn't until the early '90s and the ascendancy of grunge that vintage really hit the mainstream. Grunge as a fashion moment passed but the doors of vintage clothing shops had been thrown open, never to close. Subsequent trends meant interest in vintage has waxed and waned, but just barely. It has successfully permeated the red carpet, and instead of suggesting eccentricity, now suggests taste, a good eye and subtlety,'' Gunn said, in his book ``A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style.''

Vintage fashion is fast gaining ground in Seoul. More young and hip people are heading to second-hand shops in Hongdae, Samcheong-dong, and even Gwangjang Market to find one-of-a-kind, stylish items.

Lee Yu-mi, who owns Romiwa vintage shop in Hongdae and a big fan of second-hand clothing herself, says vintage appeals to individuals with distinct styles and tastes.

``Today, boring trends and mass-produced clothes dominate the fashion industry. There are only one-of-a-kind vintage items, so it's very unlikely that another person will be wearing the same clothes as me. … Anyone can buy high-end designer items if they have the money, but with vintage, only one person can have that one distinct piece. There are things money can't buy,'' Lee told The Korea Times.



Gwangjang Market

Located in Jongno, Gwangjang is famous for its ``meokjagolmok,'' an alley filled with food stalls offering appetizing Korean snacks like ``nokdu bindaetteok'' (mung bean pancake) and ``bori bibimbap'' (barley rice with wild vegetables). It is one of the oldest markets in Seoul, with hundreds of stores selling textiles, traditional hanbok, fresh fruits, magazines, plants, clothes, shoes, bags, toys and imported food products from the United States. and Japan.

Unknown to many, the second and third floors of Gwangjang Market are filled with stalls selling second-hand clothing, mostly from Japan. Every day, tons of clothes, shoes, bags and other items are literally being dumped there.

The market may seem chaotic at first, with the maze of stalls that look eerily similar and the narrow aisles jammed with people. A musty scent fills the air, while stalls are overflowing with heaps of used clothing, bags and shoes. (Pay close attention since some ajummas were spotted sleeping on top of their wares.)

To make it easier for shoppers, some storeowners have neatly arranged shirts and sweaters by brand (Lacoste and Polo Ralph Lauren seem to be the most popular). Racks are also filled with skirts, dresses, jackets, pants and denim jeans. Used caps, leather bags, neckties, scarves, hats and shoes, and even stuffed toys, are also sold at the market.

Look hard enough to find some of this season's hottest trends like furry vests, plaid shirts and floral dresses.

Prices are cheap, but not as low as you would expect for second-hand clothes. Wool Ralph Lauren sweaters and colorful Gap cardigans were being sold for 10,000 won. A handful of designer items like a red Armani trench coat (it was being sold for 40,000 won) and a Burberry jacket were spotted, although their authenticity cannot be ascertained.

Kim Jee-ah, a 23-year-old student, often goes to the market to hunt for unusual T-shirts and retro dresses. She says she is bored with the same styles offered at the department stores, not to mention the expensive price tags.

``It's fun for me, and it saves me money. It can be tiring looking through all the clothes. But it's worth it, especially when I find something, like a leather jacket that's really cool and it's only 30,000 won,'' Kim said.

Despite the relatively cheap prices, stall owners are also being affected by the economic crisis. ``There seems to be less shoppers now because of the recession,'' said a stall owner, who has been working at the market for 30 years.

Vintage Shops

Pawing through used and sometimes dirty clothing at a market may not appeal to everyone. Thankfully, there are several quaint boutiques that sell nice and clean clothing items that have been carefully selected from other flea markets and vintage shops in the U.S., Japan and Europe.

Luna was the first vintage shop to open along Geotgoshipeun-gil in Hongdae. With its eye-catching display and collection of sexy and cute clothes, Luna has attracted a diverse clientele for the last five years. Prices are affordable, ranging from 9,900 for blouses to 35,000 for dresses.

Han Ji-yoon, owner of Luna, said the shop's customers include students, theater people, stylists and top stars like K-pop group Wonder Girls and actress Lee Young-ae.

``We were the first vintage shop to open in this street five years ago. The other shops followed our lead. Now there are several vintage shops here,'' Han said.

True enough, there are several other vintage shops along the same street. Romiwa stands out from the other vintage shops with its pink facade and chocolate brown signboard.

Stepping into the shop, it feels as if a treasure chest of special old-style tems has just been opened. The shop is overflowing with girlish vintage dresses, vivid pumps and antique jewelry that will entice any shopper. Romiwa has charmed many regular customers over the last four years with their consistently well-selected vintage pieces. The neat display is a treat for the eyes and it eliminates the need to go through piles of clothes, which some might find to be a hassle.

Lee, the owner, makes frequent trips abroad where she scavenges through various second-hand shops and flea markets.

``Over the last ten years, I've grown to be a very picky vintage shopper. I don't select a piece just because it looks pretty to the eyes. I look at the design, the fit and small details like buttons. Of course, you can't forget about the condition of the piece,'' explained Lee.

Although Romiwa's prices are higher than other shops (dresses are priced around 50,000 won), there is a good reason for that. Lee makes sure the clothes are clean and pressed before selling it in the shop. Clothes with outdated styles (think wide shoulders and unnecessarily long skirts) are tailored to have a more updated look. Romiwa also offers online shopping through their Web site at http://www.romiwa.com.

Another shop, Vintage Mama, offers vintage dresses in light airy fabrics, paisley prints and florals (price is fixed at 19,000 won), as well as second-hand leather bags.

Vintage Mama owner Shin Young-ju said the shop has been open for a year, and sells a mix of old and new clothes. When asked where the store gets its vintage clothes, she said ``it's a secret.''

Second-Hand Luxury

For anyone who aspires for that Louis Vuitton purse but cannot quite afford the hefty price tag at the flagship store, there's another option. Head to Rodeo Street in Apgujeong where there are rows of ``junggo myeongpum'' or used luxury goods stores.

In these hard times, one shop assistant said there are more people selling their designer bags and watches for quick cash.

Second-hand designer bags, watches, shoes, clothes and jewelry, most of which were barely used, are sold at 40 to 60 percent off the regular price at the shops. The price and quality of the luxury goods vary drastically from store to store.

Shelves are lined with designer handbags from Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Dior and Hermes. For example, a little-used large LV Neverfull tote bag had a 750,000 won price tag, while a worn out suede Chanel shoulder bag was selling for only 600,000 won.

These used luxury goods stores are just the place for people who still want their fix of designer goods but at a discounted price.

Tips for Vintage Shopping

Vintage shopping is not for everyone. If you're looking for a specific dress or a certain coat, you will almost surely end up being disappointed. The thrill of vintage shopping comes from unexpectedly finding a beautiful item or something you really love.

At Gwangjang Market, it is almost impossible to try the clothes on since there are no dressing rooms. You should be prepared to make some alterations on the clothes.

Before buying anything, check for stains, holes, missing buttons, discoloration and other damages. Also make sure the zippers are functioning on pants and jeans. Wash the clothes or have them dry-cleaned before you wear them.

Always remember to be practical. A lovely designer dress that's too small is not worth buying even if its only 5,000 won. What good is a bargain if you can never wear it?

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

multiple dialogue

Paik, Kang Join in Multiple Dialogue

Artist Kang Ik-joong unveiled ``Samramansang'' (All Creations), composed of 60,000 of his ``3 x 3 inches'' paintings, Thursday at the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. It is part of a joint exhibition, ``Multiple/Dialogue,'' including the late video art pioneer Paik Nam-june’s 18-meter video tower ``The More The Better.'' / Yonhap
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Three years after the death of the ``father of video art'' Paik Nam-june, the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea is remembering his legacy with a joint exhibition with another internationally acclaimed artist Kang Ik-joong.

``Multiple/Dialogue'' opened at the museum in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, last week. The exhibition shows the interplay between Kang's ``Samramansang,'' (All Creations) featuring his ``3 x 3 inches'' works and Paik's ``The More The Better,'' an 18-meter video tower that is a permanent installation in the museum.

Visitors will first see the tower made of 1,003 television monitors flashing Paik's video images, located in the middle of what the museum calls the ``ramp core,'' a spiral corridor that leads to the different galleries. The corridor walls are covered with an almost overwhelming array of Kang's small painted squares.

``Viewers are invited to participate in the dialogue between the two artists as they experience Paik's constantly blinking video images on one hand, and on the other, the endless flow of Kang's '3 x 3 inches' pieces. … They are invited to engage in the dialogue by unfolding their own memories, histories and stories,'' curator Lim Dae-geun said.

Kang told reporters that he collected about 70,000 works that he has made since 1984, but has only used around 60,000 to fill up the 200-meter space. In a way, it is a retrospective of Kang's canvas works, letter paintings, woodcarvings and moon jar images that he has made since 1984.

While preparing for the exhibition, Kang realized many of the pieces were surprisingly related to the mountain. So he wanted the exhibition to be similar to the journey that people take as they hike up a mountain. He thinks the artist is like a mountain climber whose task is to convey what he saw on the natural wonder through art.

Visitors walk up the spiral ramp, as they hear the sounds of chirping birds, chanting monks and wind chimes. On one side of the wall, there are streaks of neon lights resembling a waterfall. At the top, there is a spectacular view of Paik's TV tower surrounded by thousands of Kang's small works.

Kang shares fond memories of Paik, whom he considers a mentor. In 1994, they staged a joint exhibition ``Multiple/Dialogue'' at the Whitney Museum of American Art at Champion in Stanford, Conn. Kang recalled how Paik faxed the museum a simple message that read: ``I am very flexible. It is important that Ik-joong has the better space.''

Since then, Kang said Paik often talked about the possibility of holding a joint exhibition in Korea. Unfortunately, it never happened during Paik's lifetime.

Art, Kang said, represents flexibility of the world. He remembered Paik's story of a ``chilseong moodang,'' or shaman, in Jeju Island who worshipped seven star deities. She forgot to bring the mortuary tablet of the chilseong. So she found a bottle of Chilsung cider and used it to replace the mortuary tablet, in order to complete the ceremony.

``For a shaman who believes that she is the center of the universe, the soda bottle will play the role of an antenna connecting her to the universe. … It's like bibimbap. There can be many variations of bibimbap. Its character depends on each person who makes the food and availability of ingredients. Nevertheless, if there is rice, the essential ingredient, then whatever is being mixed, it becomes our bibimbap,'' he said.

As a tribute to Paik, Kang said he wanted ``Samramansang,'' and Paik's ``The More The Better,'' to interact and mix, similar to bibimbap.

The exhibition runs through Feb. 7, 2010. Admission is free. To get to the museum, get off at Seoul Grand Park Subway Line 4, Exit 4, where a shuttle bus to the museum is available every 20 minutes. Visit http://www.moca.go.kr.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

andrew johnston

Andrew Johnston's Angelic Voice Soars

Andrew Johnston, who finished third in last year's season of ``Britain's Got Talent,'' has just released his first album, ``One Voice,'' in Korea.

/ Courtesy of SonyBMG

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Popular television talent shows ``Britain's Got Talent'' and ``American Idol'' have made stars out of unknowns like Paul Potts and Kelly Clarkson. Even contestants who didn't win the contest, like Connie Talbot and Jennifer Hudson, have achieved success.

Andrew Johnston, the 14-year-old Scottish boy who finished third in last year's ``Britain's Got Talent,'' is proving he can make it, too. His first album, ``One Voice,'' debuted at number four on the British album charts last September and has sold over 100,000 copies since.

Johnston first grabbed the public's attention when he auditioned for the show, singing ``Pie Jesu.'' His angelic voice was memorable, but it was his story of being born into poverty and being bullied that touched everyone's hearts.

Johnston may not have won the contest, but his talent did not go unrecognized. Simon Cowell, who was a judge in the talent show, immediately signed him to his record label, Syco Music.

The album received positive reviews. Johnston shines not only in religious songs like ``Make Me a Channel of Your Peace'' but also in pop songs such as Eric Clapton's ``Tears in Heaven'' and John Lennon's ``Imagine.''

In an email interview with The Korea Times, Johnston said he started singing when he was only six years old. He joined the choir at Carlisle Cathedral, where he later became head chorister.

``Actually it was my mom who put me in to the show. One day when I came back from school, I saw an application form with my name on it and Mom told me to do it so I did. I didn't know anything about it so it was such a big surprise for me,'' he said.

Johnston said joining the show was the ``most amazing experience of my life.''

``At first, when I got to Britain's Got Talent, I never knew I could get this far. It was amazing meeting all the acts and just having great fun, especially in the live semi-finals and the finals. Then when we went on tour. We had great fun because we were all together like a family on the tour bus,'' he said.

Johnston was always flattered to receive compliments from Cowell, who is notorious for his frank, acerbic comments towards contestants on the show. ``Simon's a really great guy. It was great singing in front of Simon ― it was just amazing. He's huge, you know, a professional critic, so I really appreciated it when he gives me a great compliment,'' he said.

Despite the media attention, Johnston remains down-to-earth and unaffected by it all. ``I don't see myself as a big celebrity. People ask for pictures and autographs but I don't like being fussed over. I like to be normal,'' he said.

But he admitted one of the biggest thrills was meeting one of his heroes, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. ``I had a chance to perform at his 60th birthday concert at Hyde Park. It was such an amazing experience for me, because (Lloyd Weber) always been my hero, you know, the star of my life,'' he said.

Johnston, who was bullied because of his singing, hopes to be an inspiration to other children who are victims of bullying.
``To anyone being bullied, I just want to give a message: Just go for what you are good at. Go for your dream. Don't ever let them get you down,'' he said.

Johnston is definitely living proof that it works, having already achieved his dream of recording an album despite his young age. ``I hope (the album) does well everywhere, including Korea. I hope it brings happiness and peace and makes everyone happy,'' he said.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

sylvain tremblay

Canadian Artist Makes 'Timeless' Paintings

Canadian artist Sylvain Tremblay
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Canadian artist Sylvain Tremblay's hauntingly beautiful paintings are filled with emaciated human forms reminiscent of Alberto Giacometti's sculptures and rich colors that evoke Gustav Klimt's paintings. Yet the entire composition is transformed into something that is uniquely Tremblay's.

A graphic illustrator-turned-artist, Tremblay knew he wanted to create something different from what other artists were doing, but never thought his experiments in painting would amount to anything.

``I was always experimenting. When I was making it, I thought nobody would like it. But I liked it and wanted to do it, so I continued doing it. I was surprised when people liked it," he told The Korea Times over coffee at the Opera Gallery in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul last week.

The 42-year-old artist was in town for the opening of his first exhibition in Seoul. It was his 25th show, having staged exhibitions in New York, Paris, London, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Tremblay, who was born in Quebec, Canada, said his parents and siblings were not particularly artistic but his grandmother was a painter. ``She died when I was eight, but she told my grandfather, 'Give my studio and art materials to Sylvain.' I got it when I was 11 and I started painting," he said.

His parents were very supportive of his artistic endeavors. When he was 16, he had his first exhibition, mainly featuring landscapes. Later, he studied graphic arts and worked as an illustrator in the advertising industry.

But Tremblay never forgot about painting. When he was 34, he quit his job to concentrate solely on art.

``What was difficult when you change from advertising to art is that you are now creating your own world. You had to find a style that when someone looks at your painting, they can recognize you. The most difficult thing to do is to be recognized. Today it is important to be unique," he said.

So Tremblay experimented with new ways of painting, getting inspiration from some great artists. ``When I went to London, I saw the works by Spanish artist (Antoni) Tapies. It opened my eyes and I began to experiment. Klimt inspired me with his ornamentation. The biggest inspiration is Giacometti in the way that he suggests and he doesn't show every detail," he said.

Tremblay's canvas paintings are characterized by thick layers of dark colored paint, contrasting matte and glossy and grainy textures that create an almost sculpture-like quality.

Inspiration is everywhere for Tremblay. He likes to walk around to observe the city and always has a sketchbook in his pocket because he's constantly sketching.

``Every day, I set aside 20 minutes to just sketch. The first sketches are like going to the same route every day. It's very comfortable. Everyone is afraid of change because we don't want it. I can sketch 10 to 20 ideas but only one or two are really new ideas. What is dangerous is if you do the same thing again," he said.

So what's next for Tremblay? He has just finished sculpture lessons and is ready to begin making sculptures for his next project.

The Montreal-based artist is even considering moving to Asia for its vibrant art scene and sunny weather.

``The artists (in Asia) are very good and have a very fresh vision. I like being inspired. In the past, the artists go to Paris to be inspired but I think it is now Asia. It's opened my mind. … I'd like to move somewhere to get new inspiration. We're looking at Asia. I like the sun. The problem is (in Montreal) during winter, the sun sets around 4 p.m. I like to work with natural light, so at 4 p.m., it gets dark and I'm finished," he laughed.

Tremblay is holding a joint exhibition, ``Timeless," with Israeli artist Samy Briss at Opera Gallery Seoul through March 10. The gallery is located on the ground floor of the Nature Poem Building, Cheongdam-dong. Visit www.operagallery.com or call (02) 3446-0070.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

eddie martinez

Eddie Martinez's First Exhibit in Korea

American artist Eddie Martinez stands on front of two of his paintings at the Seomi&Tuus Gallery, Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul.

/ Korea Times Photo
by Cathy Rose A. Garcia

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Interview, a hip American magazine, recently featured artist Eddie Martinez as one of the artists to watch in 2009. ``His idiosyncratic drawing style is deceptively simple and has the magical, faux naive quality of Paul Klee,'' the magazine wrote.

The 31-year-old artist is generating a lot of buzz in the art world for his exuberant paintings inhabited with comic book-like characters and characterized by intriguing forms.

The Korea Times met with Martinez, who was in town last week to attend the opening of his first solo exhibition in Korea at the Seomi&Tuus Gallery, Cheongdam-dong.

Born in Groton, Connecticut, Martinez said he was always interested in art. ``Even when I was playing sports, I always gravitated towards the graphics, forms and colors. I started skateboarding, there's always a huge presence of art in that with the skateboards and graphics. `The Simpsons,' when it came out, that was a huge influence on me, and comic books, Garfield, Ziggy and Calvin and Hobbes. I was just drawing and painting, doing graffiti and stuff like that,'' he said.


``Freedom (French Fries)''
by Eddie MartinezWhen he was in high school, Martinez realized he wanted to go to art school. ``I applied to art schools but I didn't get in to the one I wanted to. I applied again, didn't get in. So I went to another school to do one year, and transferred to the art school. I went in and dropped out after a month. I didn't understand why I had to do science and history, I just wanted to draw,'' he said.

His lack of formal art education does not seem to be a hindrance, and Martinez doesn't regret dropping out. ``It's a benefit now because I didn't learn a lot of the things that people learned. (At art school) they try to teach you how not to be like everyone else but they're showing you everyone else's works all the time, so you'll be influenced. When you're teaching yourself, you don't have that,'' he said.

His works have been shown in various galleries around the world, including Blum & Poe in Los Angeles, Deitch Projects in New York and Peres Projects in Berlin.

Martinez has done a series of ``tabletop paintings,'' which shows messy tables filled with random items like pretzels, keys, toys and a pineapple.

``I don't think about it really, it just sort of happens. It's a table but it can also look like a snow globe,'' he points to the work ``Untitled (Table with Pretzel).'' ``Sometimes, I'll make something that I see in my field of vision. If I see a key, I'll paint a key. Sometimes it's straightforward and sometimes it's symbolic.''

Like his cluttered tabletop paintings, Martinez said his own table at the studio is filled with lots of small objects like Smurfs figures and miniature vases. ``I like the clutter and I usually have junk everywhere,'' he said.

Martinez' works are darkly humorous, witty and never boring. At the gallery, there are portraits of clowns, wide-eyed characters and skull heads, as well as a serving of French fries. One playful piece is ``Serious Conversation (Guy Speaking with the Telephone)'' showing a bug-eyed man holding a banana to his ear.

The skull paintings were started when Martinez was doing a residency in Vienna, Austria last year. ``When I went back to the States, `Dark Knight' came out and I was really impressed with Heath Ledger. So I started doing a bunch of those. I did one that was shown in London and the subtitle was ``R.I.P. Heath Ledger,'' he said.

His newer works are showing signs of becoming more abstract, something that is perhaps a natural progression.

The Eddie Martinez Show runs through March 20 at Seomi&Tuus Gallery, located next to the Gucci flagship store in Cheongdam-dong. Visit www.seomituus.com or call (02) 511-7305.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr