[생글기자 코너] '빛나는 추억'을 만나다 등

‘빛나는 추억’을 만나다

서울 동대문디자인플라자에서 현대자동차 ‘브릴리언트 메모리스(Brilliant memories)’ 전시회가 진행 중이다. 최근에는 프로젝트형 광고가 주목받고 있는데 이 캠페인 역시 같은 맥락이다. 오래된 자동차를 추억할 수 있게 예술품으로 바꾸는 캠페인이다.

이번 캠페인에 참여한 양수인 작가를 만날 수 있었다. 체험적 작품을 중요시하는 그는 관람뿐 아니라 체험할 수 있는 작품을 만들었다. ‘이야기 그네’라는 이름의 이 작품은 자동차 안에서 이야기를 하면 센서가 이를 인식해 자동차가 움직이는 방식이다. 영화 제작자의 사연을 모티브로 만들어진 이 작품은 자동차가 움직이는 동안 안에 있는 사람이 하는 말이 녹음돼 영화 감독에게 전달되고 그에게 새로운 영화의 모티브가 된다.

그는 자신을 건축가라고 소개했다. 그러나 나는 그의 직업을 그저 ‘건축가’라는 단어 하나로 설명할 수 없다는 생각이 들었다. 그는 자신의 철학을 ‘손잡고 산책 나온 모녀가 잠깐 즐길 수 있는 그런 작품’ 이라고 밝혔다. 그의 철학에 걸맞게 양수인 작가는 관객 더 나아가 시대와 소통할 수 있는 작품을 만들고 있다.

이날 함께한 이번 전시회와 양 작가와의 만남을 통해 건축과 예술이 만났을 때 더 큰 시너지 효과를 발휘할 수 있다는 것을 새삼 깨달았다.

양 작가의 작품 이외에도 이민가기 위해 차를 판 사연을 모티브로 한 가죽시트 캐리어도 인상적이었다. 사연자의 사연이 고스란히 담긴 작품이라서 더 기억에 남는다. 대학생들의 작품 전시도 이어졌다. 연극무대 설치자였던 아버지를 형상화한 작품을 만든 한 대학생의 작품이 눈길을 끌었다. 이 작품은 계단을 올라갈 때 세 번 관점이 바뀌게 된다. 어릴 적, 청소년기, 어른이 돼서 아버지에 대한 생각을 담은 벽면 글씨는 관람객의 마음을 뭉클하게 했다. 다른 사람들의 빛나는 추억을 만나볼 수 있는 이번 전시회에 많은 사람들이 보고 느낄 수 있는 기회를 가졌으면 한다.

우소정 생글기자(김포외고 2년) wsj970609@naver.com

A letter to high school graduates

Closure is not a simple thing as it seems. We sort of have to leave things behind, step out of our comfort zone and then move on. As a college senior who is about to confront a real life, I would like to pass along some messages that are very self but experience-oriented to those who also face this closure stage and another following phase of their lives; prospective college freshmen or high school graduates.

I already can see myself blush whenever people ask about my academic history. Not that I had so much drama nor challenged myself with nerve-racking catfights, I have gone through somewhat dragging transitions over long period of time. In the beginning of my freshman year, I was econ major, expecting to be an econ professor who, in near future, graciously receives a Nobel Prize (As looking back, I even had no clue what had driven me into that direction. I guess something unidentified just tricked me to do so.) However, once I noticed that none of those economics classes would get me a job unless I taught myself a technical skill, I transferred to business school as a finance major. At that time, I was very fascinated about IB (Investment Bank), because guys in suits, skyscraper, and good perks seemed worthy to brainwash myself that I could do that job for the rest of my life without any thorough understanding of what it is about.

But, things never get worse than the bottom line. I studied abroad in Germany in Spring, 2012.

Due to proximity to its location, I was spontaneously exposed to commercials by Olympics Sponsors on TV, and then thought‘what if I worked for this event of the century?’ Then I recklessly contacted Korean Embassy located in London, and got in touch with ambassador Lee, who was very willing to help and tossed my resume to London Olympic Committee. Afterwards, I did a phone interview, got trained, and finally received a job as a member of Language Services and Protocol Team at Wembley Stadium, the venue that held all football matches during 2012 London Olympics. The job was doubly special to me, because not only worked I with fascinating team and venue, but also acknowledged my calling; sports.

Though our fairy tale could simply conclude like this, our reality does not give us what we want right away. Therefore, to testify if my aptitude truly fits into the field, I had sent out a desperate, but constructive 'cold mail' enclosed with my resume and cover letter to an organization that I had intended to work and, that is, Korea Football Association.

After massive email exchanges and final walk-interview, during summer 2013, I worked for KFA as their PR interns with legitimate roles. As I recall that time ‘The Best Time Of My Life’, I filled in the shoes of insiders of the field, mingled with great people who now all become my great mentors that I can always talk to and ask for an advice.

Now I am all occupied with sports management and diplomat field, meaning that making a contribution as a part of sports community is something that I am truly eager to devote and picture myself into doing. In order to reach this point, multiple trials and errors primarily got involved with serious time and effort saturated, but at the end, it turned out ALL good.

Everyone has his own chance of digging luck. You just need to keep digging and prepare those tools that enable you to do that in a right way when the moment comes. As I said, I kept digging and had my own tools, which were English fluency, photography and social network management.

Going back to right where we started, I wish you all good luck on your journey of being an adult and discovering the future. Keep digging and make sure you got the tools.

The more, the better.

손혜지 생글기자(일리노이대 어바나샴페인) son28@illinois.edu