Mitt Romney Style (Gangnam Style Parody)

Watch Video: Mitt Romney Style (Gangnam Style Parody)

A Mitt Romney 'Gangnam Style' parody has become an viral sensation.

Produced by comedy website CollegeHumor, the video sees the presidential candidate belt out 'Mitt Romney Style'. The song pokes fun at his controversial '47%' comment as well as his supposed love of money and wealth.

On YouTube, it has drawn a total of more than 12 million views.

Gangnam Style hits Kuwait!

Today at the American University of Kuwait (AUK): our students dance Gangnam Style ( I promise that I had nothing to do with this! ) 

Gangnam Style, Dissected: The Subversive Message Within South Korea's Music Video Sensation

 ‘Gangnam Style, Dissected: The Subversive Message Within South Korea’s Music Video Sensation,’ subtitled, ‘Beneath the catchy dance beat and hilarious scenes of Seoul’s poshest neighborhood, there might be a subtle message about wealth, class, and value in South Korean society.’

getting ready for the show...

My solo exhibition titled ... occurrences in dislocation opens tomorrow and runs through October 3, 2012 to coincide with the Gwangju Biennale.  Work will be displayed in the Han Pyeong Gallery and the Mite-Ugro Archive both in the Daein Market, Gwangju, South Korea.   Open hours are 10am - 6pm Monday through Saturday and the galleries will be open 10am - 12 midnight on September 7 and 8, 2012 for the Daein Market's Artists Night Market.

my solo exhibition opening in Korea...

My solo exhibition titled ... occurrences in dislocation opens tomorrow and runs through October 3, 2012 to coincide with the Gwangju Biennale.  Work will be displayed in the Han Pyeong Gallery and the Mite-Ugro Archive both in the Daein Market, Gwangju, South Korea.   Open hours are 10am - 6pm Monday through Saturday and the galleries will be open 10am - 12 midnight on September 7 and 8, 2012 for the Daein Market's Artists Night Market.
 

behind the scenes of our post-nuclear apocalypse film set in Korea...

We started shooting our post-nuclear apocalypse film, YEOK, on Monday night, August 6 (the same day that in 1945 the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan - we did not plan this, just a weird coincidence). As a thunderstorm rolled in, we began shooting. Here are a few of my photos of behind the scenes footage (for more photos and a video click HERE). Enjoy!

Update on remake of Chris Marker's La Jetee (R.I.P. Chris Marker)

La jetée (dir. Chris Marker, 1962)

After getting our studio ready and finishing the kickstarter campaign, Jonah and I were pretty exhausted. We took a couple of days to enjoy market performances, get to know some of the Gwangju artists, and spend time with the director of Mite-Ugro, Seungki Cho. It's August first and we have a lot to work to do in order to get work ready in time for the Gwangju Biennale. Here is what we are planning to accomplish in the next month: 1. My solo show will be exhibited during the same time as the Gwangju Biennale. My works with include handmade scrolls exploring the loss of traditional Korean culture. 2. Jonah and I will film a teaser trailer for Yeok so we can screen it during the time of the Gwangju Biennale. 3. Jonah and I will create a live production performance during the Gwangju Biennale of a scene from Yeok to mark the death of Chris Marker and to celebrate his life and work.

“I write to you from a far-off country” ~R.I.P. Chris Marker

29 July 1921 – 30 July 2012

Chris Marker, Enigmatic Multimedia Artist, Dies at 91 - NYTimes.com 

Mr. Marker, who pioneered the flexible hybrid form known as the essay film, resisted categorization throughout his career...

Less than 1/2 hour to go!!!

Less than 1/2 hour to go!!! Last chance to donate! Anybody who donates $25 in the final hour will receive a DVD ! Let's see if we can reach $8,000:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1697300103/yeok-the-station

역 Yeok ( The Station)

www.kickstarter.com

역Yeok is a remake of Chris Marker's La Jetee. Set in Korea, it tells the story of a post-nuclear war experiment.

Artists Night Market Gwangju, South Korea!

The best thing so far about our artist residency program has been to meet the other artists working in Gwangju, South Korea.  MITE UGRO is set within a short of dying old traditional market. The local artists, with some support from the government, has set up a number of artists spaces - galleries, studios, workshop areas, etc., as well as once a month they have this rather exciting night market with art,  handmade crafts, lots of food and drink, Korean traditional drummers, a DJ, emerging bands, etc. (watch the video above).  I was surprised how much it was a real blend of the locals that work in the market everyday and lots of young people, artists, etc.  Since the market is rather slow and kind of depressing usually, it was really encouraging to see how much it could change with some new added energy!

Anyways, less than 2 hours to go on the kickstarter to support our film project.  Donate if you can!  (click here to donate)

Korean cold noodles and 5 hours left to support our film!

Still hot and humid in Korea but we found this popular noodle dish that you mix with ice!

If you missed them, below are links to my past blog posts on the artist residency program in Korea, our film, an our trip to Japan:

• Artist Residency Program in Korea
• Korea: some of the best food in the world?
• video welcome at artist residency, Gwangju, South ...
• New video update from the Ryoanji Temple, Kyoto, J...
• getting our studio ready in Korea...
• Yang Dong Market
• Korean film updates

Korean film updates

Not sure if you have seen all of these updates on the film we are shooting in Korea so below are links to each of them.  Most updates are by Jonah Whipp but I wrote a few, contributed video and photos, and am in a number of the videos.  ENJOY!

 

Yang Dong Market ( the station)

Ryu will play the role of Mr. Song

Mr. Lee will play the role of "Man who goes insane"

Buai Mingon Oh will play the role of a scientist in Yeok

Introducing "The Man" Seungki Cho

Thank YOU!!!!!

The studio is ready! (almost)

Special thanks update!

Back in Korea with a new visa. Time to get to work.

Kyoto, Japan

Nara, Japan

Osaka!!!!!!!

Overnight in Seoul, headed to Osaka

Seungki welcomes artist William Andersen to Mite-Ugro

Traveling to Gwangju, South Korea

WHAT IS MITE UGRO ZAZA? 

역 Yeok ( The Station)

 

 

 

Yang Dong Market

Yesterday Jonah and I toured the Yang Dong market which will be one of the location shots for our film YEOK (the station). Check out Jonah's photos below for a glimpse of what we saw. Only 11 hours left to help support our film. Please spread the word and donate if you can:  (DONATE by clicking here)

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All photos by Jonah Whipp

getting our studio ready in Korea...

Painting over the so-called Museum of Graffiti Art

Seungki Cho and Jonah Whipp repairing our studio furnishings

Almost complete after the painting, repairs, and hanging up some traditional Korean sun blinds

It has taken a lot of time and work to get our studio ready for our artist residency program at MITE UGRO.  The two "artists" before us had turned the studio into what they called a "Museum of Graffiti Art" so we had to use four cans of white paint to cover it all (btw: when one of the graffiti artists got back to the US he was immediately arrested and put in jail, we also saw a news report that they both are wanted on a $10,000 fine for painting graffiti over some other artist's work here in Korea).  Much of the rest of our time has been spent cleaning, figuring out where to purchase items, get relatively decent food that is not too expensive, and even where to get our clothes washed... this has all taking a lot of time and energy, especially in such hot and humid weather everyday (it was only 88 degrees today but the humidity got up to 98%)!!!!

Anyways, only 5 days left to donate to the film we are shooting in Korea!  Spread the word and donate if you can, if we don't reach our goal we don't get anything:  역 Yeok ( The Station)

New video update from the Ryoanji Temple, Kyoto, Japan

Kinkaku (The Golden Temple), Kyoto, Japan

Yesterday was an unbelievably hot and humid day in Kyoto. In the morning we dropped off our bags at a zen temple in the northwestern part of the city. We quickly hopped on bikes and rode over to a local sushi restaurant and ate fabulous sushi for only a 100 yen per dish. After lunch we checked out the Kinkaku ( The Golden Pavilion ) and the Ryoanji temple. Watch the new video of me at the Ryoanji Temple, got a little confused in all the heat and humidity and thought we found Yoda's hut! Watch video here: 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1697300103/yeok-the-station/posts/267874

Korea: some of the best food in the world?

First meal in Korea - Haejangguk or "hangover soup," a coke, and kimchi.

Second night - Udon noodles, tea, Korean "sushi" rolls, and kimchi.

Third night - Samgyupsal or Korean pork BBQ, a beer, and of course more kimchi.

The food has been the best part of Korea so far.  Since I have recently been called a bon vivant, I think I can have something to say about good cuisine around the world.  If you asked me a few years ago what are the best destinations that I have been to for good food and drink, my list would be something like:

1. Taiwan
2. Italy
3. Spain
4. Singapore
5. China (would be higher on this list but NOT with all of the food contamination stories)

...but now I would put Korea right up there at number 3 or 4.  I still will be in Korea for almost two more months so let's see what happens...

I am in South Korea doing an artist residency at  Mite Ugro ZaZa. Besides producing an exhibit of new artwork, I will be assisting a friend and former student, Jonah Whipp, create a film. Please pledge to help produce this unique film that could potentially launch our creative careers! Any amount small or big will help and there are rewards for donating too including a Zine, DVD of the final film, and one-of-a-kind artwork by ME! Click on the links for more info:

역 Yeok ( The Station)

www.kickstarter.com

역Yeok is a remake of Chris Marker's La Jetee. Set in Korea, it tells the story of a post-nuclear war experiment.

Artist Residency Program in Korea

street vendors in Daegu, South Korea

Just arrived in South Korea last night, July 2, around 5pm, then took a 4 hour bus ride down to Daegu after about an hour of clearing customs and picking up my luggage at Incheon International Airport. Arrived in Daegu around 10:30pm and met up with my friend and former student Jonah Whipp. He is still teaching English for a few more days so I am sleeping on his floor in his tiny studio apartment until we can both move into the artist residency space at Mite Ugro ZaZa in Gwangu. He is staying longer but my residency runs through September 9th.  We are collaborating on a film, an art exhibition, as well as I am also working on some of my own artwork. 

Click on the link below for more info on our film project:

역 Yeok ( The Station)

www.kickstarter.com

역Yeok is a remake of Chris Marker's La Jetee. Set in Korea, it tells the story of a post-nuclear war experiment.

help support our film shot in South Korea!

 

This is one of the project that I will be working on during my artist residency at MITE UGRO ZAZA in Gwangju, South Korea. Besides producing an exhibit of new artwork, I will be assisting a friend and former student, Jonah Whipp, create a film.

Jonah Whipp is a smart, sensitive, and promising young film maker. Pledge to help produce this unique film that could potentially launch his creative career! Any amount small or big will help and there are rewards for donating too including a Zine, DVD of the final film, and one-of-a-kind artwork by ME! Click on the links for more:

역 Yeok ( The Station)

www.kickstarter.com

역Yeok is a remake of Chris Marker's La Jetee. Set in Korea, it tells the story of a post-nuclear war experiment.

Kim Jong-il is dead: pretty weird and scary guy...

Just for fun- it is also important to note that the N. Korean media also reports that Kim Jong-il bowled a perfect game-300, on his first time out bowling!

Kim Jong-il: Best Golfer in the World

www.oobgolf.com

This is from a couple years ago- but it's too good not to post. North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il is the best golfer in the world, hands down. On his first ever trip to the golf course, he shot 38-under par, including 5 hole-in-ones! This is reported by the government controlled media. He routine...

Kim Jong-il's regime is even weirder and more despicable than you thought.

www.slate.com

Visiting North Korea some years ago, I was lucky to have a fairly genial "minder" whom I'll call Mr. Chae. He guided me patiently around the ruined and starving country, explaining things away by means of a sort of denial mechanism and never seeming to lose interest in the gargantuan...

Happy New Year 2011 from Korea!