OUL, the bar at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, has collaborated with Korean photographer and visual artist Jinju Kang on an exhibit of the symbolism of rice in Korean culture.
As part of the OUL X Local Artisan collaboration, guests can savour a fusion of visual, culinary and cocktail art – including an exhibition of Jinju Kang’s photography and rice-inspired cocktails.
“OUL is the perfect setting for this artistic exploration of rice, and Jinju Kang, the ideal visual storyteller,” comments Four Seasons Hotel Seoul Hotel Manager Michael Cho.
“Spanning the traditional, modern and future-minded, OUL is our homage to all the eras that have shaped the city we love today, and nothing transcends the eras and their meaning here in Korea more than rice,” Cho continued.
Artfully intended as a sippable complement to Jinju Kang’s creativity, OUL will be serving three unique cocktails made from Korean rice spirits. Merging ancient heritage with modern mixology, Jeju Bom Fizz is a refreshing, zesty highball featuring Jeju Island’s Omegi rice wine infused with green tea, yuzu, honey and seltzer.
An aromatic, invigorating twist on the French 75, Ssal 75 blends mandarin peel-infused gin and orange blossom cordial with sparkling rice wine. Sool Bab is a rich, velvety, creative cocktail with a base of miso butter soju infused with nurungji syrup for a subtle fermented aroma.
Artfully accompanying the inspired cocktails is a unique Korean rice dish of Nurungji Bibim Guksu – a sweet and spicy partnership of five-colour noodles, gochujang sauce and barley miso nurungji chips in a tangy dongchimi broth, served with a sea bream, abalone, cuttlefish and seasonal vegetables.
The collaboration, which will run until March 30, sees a series of contemporary artworks as Jinju Kang trains her lens on the cultural significance of Korean rice, not only reminding locals about the tradition and childhood memories but also definitely intriguing diverse foreigners’ interest.
By focusing on traditional instruments – farmers’ tools, woven baskets, mortars and rice steamers – Jinju Kang explores the journey of rice through the ages and from field to fork. Capturing the cycle of growth, harvest, and renewal, her art reflects the rhythms of life itself.
For more information, go to fourseasons.com or connect via Instagram