Actor Kim Rae-won and actress Kim Hee-sun (front) join other models to present creations by Andre Kim during a fashion show at Angkor Wat in Cambodia on Monday night. [Chung Hee-cho/The Korea Herald] Tuesday, December 12, 2006
By Cho Chung-un
(christory@heraldm.com)
Korea Herald correspondent
SIEM REAP, Cambodia - Korea's top designer Andre Kim showcased his lavish costumes representing the beauty of his country at Angkor Wat temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on Monday evening. The show titled "Fashion Fantasia: Angkor Watt" is the first of its kind ever held with the ancient temple as a backdrop. The temple, one of the seven wonders of the world, is located in the western part of Cambodia.
"I feel honored to present my fashion show in front of this internationally recognized heritage, Angkor Wat of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Also I am deeply grateful to the government of Cambodia and its beautiful, warm-hearted citizens," said Kim during an opening speech.
The first part of the two-day show was attended by many prominent guests including Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and other cabinet ministers as well as family members of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
"It is my delight and pleasure to participate in Andre Kim's fashion show, the first international fashion show in front of Angkor Wat. We would like to express gratitude to the participants of the international fashion show and for having film stars in the prosperous city of Angkor," said Deputy Prime Minister Sok An. Kim's fashion show started with the stage that celebrated the ongoing Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006 with two Korean Wave stars - actor Kim Rae-won and actress Kim Hee-sun - walking down the catwalk with other special guest models. A total of 187 pieces were showcased during the two-hour show.
The 71-year-old designer presented dresses in white, purple and black silk chiffon accentuated with embroidered sparkling spangles. Glittering silver-tone buttons and shoes and also somewhat simplified patterns used in the dress added a futuristic twist to Kim's designs.
The show, however, was interrupted for 20 minutes due to a power failure which cut off the stage music. When the show resumed, models had to walk the runway without music for 10 minutes. But the audience was supportive, with enthusiastic applause for every model marching down the runway.
Despite the glitch, Kim amazed the audience by delivering the message of everlasting love and romanticism through his symbolic fashion and the dramatic performances of the two hallyu stars. Kim continued to introduce the splendor of Korea's 5,000 years of history and also revived the achievements of the Khmer Empire in ancient Cambodia with silk dresses imprinted with figures of each culture.
Sparkling white suits and a wedding dress romantically embellished with Kim's symbolic flower pattern gave the crowning touch to the fashion show.
"I was thrilled to appreciate the show which well portrayed the beauty of Korea here in Cambodia," said Cho Jung-il, manager of a local travel agency in Siem Reap.
"The designs are wonderful ... beautiful, which have both a classic and modern feel. Especially, I feel honored to have Andre Kim's show in front of the national treasure of Cambodia," said a Cambodian participant at the show.
Kim's "Fashion Fantasia: Angkor Watt" is part of the Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006 that kicked off last month and runs through Jan. 9 next year. The 50-day event titled "Ancient Future: The Myths of the Orient" features exhibitions on the Khmer civilization (1181-1215) and the Silla culture (57 B.C.-935), providing an insight into the culture of Korea and Cambodia.
"I feel honored to present my fashion show in front of this internationally recognized heritage, Angkor Wat of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Also I am deeply grateful to the government of Cambodia and its beautiful, warm-hearted citizens," said Kim during an opening speech.
The first part of the two-day show was attended by many prominent guests including Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and other cabinet ministers as well as family members of Prime Minister Hun Sen.
"It is my delight and pleasure to participate in Andre Kim's fashion show, the first international fashion show in front of Angkor Wat. We would like to express gratitude to the participants of the international fashion show and for having film stars in the prosperous city of Angkor," said Deputy Prime Minister Sok An. Kim's fashion show started with the stage that celebrated the ongoing Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006 with two Korean Wave stars - actor Kim Rae-won and actress Kim Hee-sun - walking down the catwalk with other special guest models. A total of 187 pieces were showcased during the two-hour show.
The 71-year-old designer presented dresses in white, purple and black silk chiffon accentuated with embroidered sparkling spangles. Glittering silver-tone buttons and shoes and also somewhat simplified patterns used in the dress added a futuristic twist to Kim's designs.
The show, however, was interrupted for 20 minutes due to a power failure which cut off the stage music. When the show resumed, models had to walk the runway without music for 10 minutes. But the audience was supportive, with enthusiastic applause for every model marching down the runway.
Despite the glitch, Kim amazed the audience by delivering the message of everlasting love and romanticism through his symbolic fashion and the dramatic performances of the two hallyu stars. Kim continued to introduce the splendor of Korea's 5,000 years of history and also revived the achievements of the Khmer Empire in ancient Cambodia with silk dresses imprinted with figures of each culture.
Sparkling white suits and a wedding dress romantically embellished with Kim's symbolic flower pattern gave the crowning touch to the fashion show.
"I was thrilled to appreciate the show which well portrayed the beauty of Korea here in Cambodia," said Cho Jung-il, manager of a local travel agency in Siem Reap.
"The designs are wonderful ... beautiful, which have both a classic and modern feel. Especially, I feel honored to have Andre Kim's show in front of the national treasure of Cambodia," said a Cambodian participant at the show.
Kim's "Fashion Fantasia: Angkor Watt" is part of the Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006 that kicked off last month and runs through Jan. 9 next year. The 50-day event titled "Ancient Future: The Myths of the Orient" features exhibitions on the Khmer civilization (1181-1215) and the Silla culture (57 B.C.-935), providing an insight into the culture of Korea and Cambodia.
3 comments:
The more people know about "Angkor" the more famous its name will become. Thanks for visiting or showing your show here at our famous " Angkor ". It's your as well. We are all human being and we all should know and share this great- magnificient place. What a feeling!
Angkor is the seven wonder of the world in its own term. Those who know it well and those who hold it close to their hearts will know exactly what we mean.
Ordinary Khmers
I agree. While Angkor is the heart and soul of Cambodians, it is a beauty that belongs to the world. Everyone should have a chance to enjoy it's great wonder.
Has anyone been to the Korean-Cambodian expo at Siem Reap? What a dissapointment - they should be paying people $20 a time to walk around one of the most boring, fetid and badly thought-out ideas I have ever had the misfortune to waste my time (and money) seeing. This is really quite pathetic and the organisers should hide their heads in shame. It is truly an awful experience. No doubt someone made a lot of money from it - or the land that has been rented to house this travesty of a cultural show. Where is the beautiful Cambodian culture ? Where is the Royal Ballet? Who wants to go to Angkor, the heart and sould of Khmer culture to see cheap and uninteresting Korean culture (I am sure it is lovely and beautiful in its own context but what is on display here is plain dull and boring). Even the map printed did not place Angkor Wat in the correct position - it is shown in place of where the Bayon should be shown (at the heart of Angkor Thom). Please if you are going to do these things do them correctly. Heads will roll for this and I hear the price of entrace has already dropped to $10 - still a complete and utter waste of money in my view. Pack up and go home. Thanks.
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