HIP OPENER

 

주리틀기

These Joseon folks really knew how to perform a hip opener from hell. Forget modern yoga gurus.

Happy Friday, my darlings! Just a few more hours of torture to go...

Besos xx,
Lu

MAGIC KIMONO

 

Watching Magic Kimono while waiting to start work, I ponder my recent fascination with South-East Asia. I am a perfect example of the role ignorance plays in racism.

I visited Singapore in my twenties, but I didn’t enjoy it the way I had enjoyed all my travels until then. It was my first Asian country. I don’t remember paying much attention to its people. Unlike the people who welcomed me in other countries, Singaporeans didn’t seem real to me then, but rather part of a world that felt totally alien, completely different from mine, so instead of embracing the opportunity of getting to know them I watched them always from afar. My 1970s–80s Spanish upbringing had given me very little contact with that world.

And yet, I had always been drawn to Asian traditional architecture and spirituality, and to their communion with the natural world — probably a result of my love for early manga and anime, also thanks to one of the first books I ever read (though written by a Westerner):  The Good Earth. A story about the life of a family in rural China in the early 20th century. I even asked my parents to decorate my ample childhood room like a Japanese abode. All I got was a paper balloon lamp and a mattress on the floor *sighs*.

Who knows what my life would have been like if I had ever considered migrating East instead of North. I know, I know — it’s pointless looking at the past that way. Just curiosity, not regret.

I am pleased I am getting to know more about our Asian brothers and sisters at last, even if it took me nearly a lifetime to do.

Happy Sunday all.

xx
Lu

아리랑 / Netflix 21/03/26

 

Captura de BTS COMEBACK DRONE LIGHT SHOW

It feels almost surreal that, while much of the world seems to be living through its darkest chapter since World War II (or so it feels from here), millions of people are quietly counting down the hours to a concert in Seoul.

BTS. Arirang. Live. On Netflix.

The first live concert ever broadcast on the platform—and of course, it had to be Korean.

At this point, anyone who still refuses to see that the East is rising isn’t just missing it… they’re choosing not to look.

And then there’s the obvious question: who are BTS, really?

One of the most successful pop groups in the world, for years now. Seven members, freshly reunited after completing the eighteen months of compulsory military service required in South Korea.

K-pop has never quite been my thing, and BTS isn’t even my favorite within that world. But these boys have trained since childhood, worked beyond what most people will ever understand, and in doing so, they’ve brought billions into their country and sparked global curiosity about Korean culture.

And that matters.

In a world where powerful men still spend their time—and their people’s taxes—on weapons, on destruction, on burning through what little we have left… it feels only fair to acknowledge those who build something instead.

Even if it’s “just” pop.

Good luck, my darlings—whoever, wherever you are.

I hope you’re safe. I hope the people you love are safe too.

And I hope, somehow, we outgrow the "men" who keep dragging us backwards… and choose, for once, something better.

NUFF SAID 3

Generated with MS DESIGNER

I have been quiet, I know; it's probably a good thing for everyone. As the old Chinese proverb goes :

"The Mouth is the door to disaster; the tongue is the blade that cuts your own body; if one closes his mouth and hides his tongue, wherever he goes he will be at peace."

Or, how my father used to tell me often:

"En boca cerrada no entran moscas " 

Then again, tampoco comida!!

PS - I have met another oriental - k-crazed woman. She is a colleague from Argentina who, like me, has fallen for the country of S. Korea and their language and is trying to learn it. She suggested I tried HelloTalk, an app to practice languages with native speakers from all over the world. My Korean is far from ready for conversation yet, but the app allows you to read plenty of text with translations, as well as to listen to the language before one feels ready for action. 

PS - it's curious how the addiction goes both ways: Latin American and Spanish people are getting obsessed with Korea, Japan and some with China, while they are crazy about us. 

PPS - as it turns out, Korea really is that beautiful in spring :'( 

MS DESIGNER AI concept art for a very modern version of the Don Quijote (oposite order to the story)

 

I really love the concept of this one, the traditional Korean clothes mixed with futuristic havoc in comic book design 

Spot the weirdness ;)  Sometimes our little AI friend doesn't know what to do with our body parts, ahem:

Or with our faces... 

Papa said Pincel (my AI artist friend) seems to have been inspired by the old Blade Runner for the city scenes. He is right.

 

Then I got totally carried away with my Donha Quijote's fantasies , in the style of 19th century's paintings :

 

I mean, seriously !!!!  

 

Like... what the f...ck !? had to make this one my laptop's background picture :

 

Like... a machine made this, for real O_o :

 

No, sadly this guy does not exist in Real LIfe, snifff  : 

Neither these two "naughties" :

 

 

 

Et Voila!  the beginning of my Donha Quijote, which feels a lot more real with the help of a little AI friend. All generated by MS DESIGNER

Happy week, humans. I will be off in the skies tomorrow so see you on our way back, if God and the Universe allows me back that is. I leave you with a Holiday song. Be Good, or not, BE HAPPY.

안녕 !! xx