Utility of Daily Routine

Soul Mates of the Century

According to the dictionary, a soul mate is a friend with whom one feels a deep and natural affinity. When two people share a natural affinity, they can be a source of positive energy for each other. Here are soul mates of the century who inspired each other and became a source of comfort for each other.

📝Text by. Su-bin Cho

The Best Partners on a Journey
around the World

Whanki Kim & Hyangan Kim
Whanki Kim and Hyangan Kim were a couple and the perfect soul mates. They were also partners who pioneered the world of art together. The name of the wife was Dong-lim Byeon, but she decided to change it to Hyangan Kim. Kim is the last name of her husband, and HyangAn is his pen name. She chose the new name as a symbolic gesture of wanting to live as one with her husband.
She gave her husband Whanki Kim wholehearted support, showing how broad-minded she was. One day, Whanki Kim declared, “I am going to Paris,” explaining that he is in his mid-40s and was curious about how global audiences would view his artworks. The next day, she headed straight to the French consulate, got her visa issued, and left for Paris alone. Linguistically talented, she thought she would learn French, find a studio for her husband in Paris, and network with artists by herself. Exactly one year later, Whanki Kim moved to Paris and eventually became a successful artist there. Hyangan Kim orchestrated everything so that he could focus on art and reach his potential.
After Whanki Kim died, she was gripped by a feeling of loss for a while but soon shook it off and once again offered her support for her deceased husband in her own way. In memory of Whanki Kim, she launched the Whanki Foundation and opened Whanki Museum in 1992.

Two Maestros: Partners & Rivals

van Gogh & Paul Gauguin
At the end of the 19th century, art trends veered away from impressionism and went through rapid changes. Two great artists were leading the art scene. They were Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. Impressed by each other’s artistic talent, the two maestros quickly developed a special bond. van Gogh invited Gauguin to Arles, a city in Southern France where he lived. They even lived together and created artworks for about two months, during which they fueled each other’s passion for art. It is during this period of time together when their masterpieces including the Sunflowers and Les Miserables were born.
However, cracks started to show in their friendship. In fact, their personalities and artistic philosophies clashed, leading to conflicts. They often argued over different approaches to artworks, and their feedback for each other’s works ended in fights. Finally, Gauguin decided to leave van Gogh, ending their friendship. Nevertheless, Gaugin showed his respect for van Gogh in his paintings by including sunflowers in them. Although their friendship was short-lived, it left an indelible mark on each other’s life.

A Trendsetting Duo:
Audrey Hepburn and Hubert De Givenchy

Audrey Hepburn & Hubert De Givenchy
Before she became famous for her role in Roman Holiday, Audrey Hepburn was little known in Hollywood at the beginning of her career. While actresses with an hour-glass body were idolized, what made Hepburn stand out was her innocent face and skinny body. When she went to Paris to find costumes to wear in her next film Sabrina, she was rejected by a number of designers. Hubert De Givenchy, founder of fashion brand Givenchy, also refused to give Hepburn his outfits. But she kept asking him until he eventually allowed her to wear an outfit he designed. The outfit fit her perfectly as if customized for her. In Sabrina, Hepburn wore outfits designed by Givenchy including tight-fitting capri pants, boat-neck shirts, and high-waisted shorts. This marked the beginning of a new fashion trend that captured the hearts of many women.
In reference to Givenchy, Audrey Hepburn said, “His clothes are the only ones in which I feel myself. Wearing his clothes makes me feel happy.” Hepburn and Givenchy collaborated together in 8 movies, with the former always wearing the latter’s clothes at the Academy Awards and other red-carpet events. They created numerous popular fashion items including flat shoes, silk scarf, trench coats, and black turtle necks.
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