Stunning Street Art Brightens Seoul's Dreary Monsoon Season

Like most cities, the streets of Seoul in South Korea are usually bustling with activity. However, that changes in July when a short but intense monsoon season turns the vibrant city into a ghost town. This year, a team of artists tried to change that by transforming the typically gloomy and quiet streets into a beautiful explosion of color and life.

'Project Monsoon' was the brainchild of Korean nationals Seunghoon Shin, Yoonshin Kim, and Nu Ri Kim, who are studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The team came up with the idea for a contest sponsored by Britain's Design and Art Direction that challenged entrants to re-imagine their hometown through the language of color.

Working in collaboration with U.S. based paint manufacturer Pantone, the artists painted beautiful murals on the streets of Seoul. The only catch? The artwork that was inspired by the country's culture of emphasizing the importance of the flow of rivers and included multi-colored whales, turtles, and fish, was created using hydrochromic paint. The special paint remains invisible showing its true colors only when it comes in contact with water. Hence, to admire the colorful murals, the residents had no choice but to leave their homes during wet weather.

To make citizens aware of the treat awaiting them, the artists installed digital billboards and also created a website complete with the geo-location of each mural. There is no word on whether Project Monsoon succeeded in convincing Seoul residents to venture out on wet days. However, it did win the creators, two of the world's most prestigious honors for upcoming artists - The D&AD New Blood Yellow and Black Pencil Awards.

Resources: Dailymail.co.uk, saic.edu, huffingtonpost.com