WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE For nine years, Sulwhasoo has celebrated the Korean heritage through its beauty philosophies and Sulwha Cultural Exhibitions. Nen Lin Soo traversed the storied paths of its 2015 edition in Seoul.
The colouring book, created to encapsulate the entire experience
There was something about the Bluesquare Nemo Gallery in Seoul, where the 2015 Sulwha Cultural Exhibition was held, that renders a person completely in awe. Organised yearly by holistic beauty brand Sulwhasoo, 2015’s exhibition was built to encapsulate a heart-wrenching story near and dear to the hearts of Koreans who grew up on traditional folklore stories. The exclusive preview in the open space had the added touch of allowing invited guests to push the boundaries of what one could feel, see, and touch. In a daunting yet exhilarating way, it was the interactive experience that was everything but dull. Unsurprisingly, the 2015 ‘Once Upon A Time: Tale of Crape Myrtle’ exhibition went hand-in-hand with Sulwhasoo’s core philosophies. A simple look at the brand’s natural ingredients native to its homeland provides a straightforward idea on how it operates – the prevalent use of ginseng across its collection of skincare products is deeply rooted in the history of Korean beauty; the Jaumdan, an exclusive mix of five traditional plants, found predominantly in East Asia (solomonseal, rehmannia, white lily, Chinese peony, and East Indian Lotus), is also the driving formula behind all Sulwhasoo products. The brand is, really, no stranger to cross-cultural innovations.
‘Once Upon A Time: Tale of Crape Myrtle’ was specifically borne out of the traditional folktale, A Tale of Crape Myrtle. Retrieved from the childhood memories of most Koreans, and thrown into