MIX: K-pop at the CMA

by The Publisher

On the first Friday of every month, The Cleveland Museum of Art hosts their MIX social, a 21+ event featuring art, music, cocktails, as well as different forms of entertainment and theming. I can’t tell you what the other MIX events have been about–this was my first one (in fact, it was my first time at the CMA at all). But here, at this one, the event was focused around ‘K-Pop’.

The choice of K-pop as the theme was hardly accidental. The event was planned in congruence with one of the special exhibits currently hosted at the museum: “Korean Couture: Generations of Revolution”, an exhibit which “highlights the history and transformative legacy of Korean fashion… ranging from excavated 17th-century aristocratic garments to contemporary Korean couture by leading and emerging designers.” (https://www.clevelandart.org/events/mix-k-pop 2024). The advertised billing was for DJ Big Sana accompanied by the K-Pop dance group “PinkSoda”.

When we first arrived, the event was just getting off the ground. Funneling towards the main atrium in the crowd of participants, one of the first observations I made was the eclectic nature of those in attendance. People of all ages, backgrounds, and social identities could be observed. Boomers to zoomers and everyone in between being their classy or strange selves. In the past, there has been a small dread that plays out for me when I’m unsure how to present myself. This is taking place at a nice museum, but it’s a K-Pop event. A suit? I don’t think so. Ripped up jeans and a mesh shirt? I also have to pass on that. But once I got there, I realized that all of my concerns were for nothing. There was such a collection of fashion and presentation from everyone involved that it would have been harder for me to try and pick the wrong thing to wear. I never felt out of place; only welcomed.

Once we got past the main check gate and showed our ID, I headed straight to the bar. The lines were still short, but lengthening by the second, and I know that I’m going to need a cocktail to swish around in my hand–probably a few. The bars were scattered all around the parameters and I walked up to the first empty one I saw. Everyone was incredibly nice and they took eleven dollars for a G&T with lime without batting an eye. Normally I would complain about the wacky world of event economics, but I have to assume the overages are going to the museum, so it was fine with me (fine enough to get a couple more, in fact).

We started exploring the area around us, large banners hung down the walls featuring upcoming exhibits and events. Music was starting to pump out through the crowd as we stood around and drank our drinks. There were signs and posters pointing towards several exhibits to explore. Adverts for the Africa and Byzantium Exhibit were prominently displayed throughout the building, and we had to drain our cups if we wanted to see it (there was an understandable ‘No Food or Drink’ policy outside of the main event area). While sipping with gusto, we ran into our good friend that invited us. We took off together and explored the Africa and Byzantium exhibits and spent more time than we expected pouring over the collection of art from the era. Delicate weathered pages featuring images and portrayals from the early western Abrahamic religions. Amazing depictions of famous biblical scenes hung on the wall along with scripts and scrolls details the lives and times of people long gone. A few of the pieces had known authors and artists, and I was enchanted by the idea of being a (relatively) insignificant person from 200 A.D. having their name enshrined within a museum exhibition in our modern age. The timeline and evolution of motifs and themes, the growing ability and practice of artistic methods at the time, and the cross-cultural shared influences that spread across the region; all neatly on display and presented for the mind to dwell on and imagine the glory that these decayed ruins once enshrined.

Our friend noticed the time and ushered us back to the door. He is long time friends with the members of PinkSoda and wasn’t going to miss their performance. We put a pause on the exhibit and raced back upstairs. Truth be told: K-Pop is not really my vibe.

Another morsel of truth: I don’t really care if it’s not my vibe, I love high energy music and dancing.

PinkSoda, represented by members Arushi, Margaret, and Raymond, was electric. They acted in precision like the inner workings of a geared mechanism. They stomped, waved, glided, spun, and put out so much charisma I could feel it from several rows back. They did hand motions in unison that made me question how all three of them don’t immediately develop acute carpal tunnel syndrome. I don’t know K-Pop well enough to tell you the names of the songs or dances they were doing (though it was very evident that the majority of the crowd I was in did), but I can tell you that they are well worth the experience and I can’t recommend seeing one of their performances high enough. After their first presentation, they took a small break and we took the opportunity to visit the rest of our earlier exhibit. We came back to PinkSoda doing a group dance instructional, that, though well presented, was far beyond my capabilities. Instead I hung back and sipped on a new drink I found: a honey ginger margarita. It was delicious. So were the second and third ones.

After munching and grooving for a bit, we sought out the rest of the exhibits and managed to make our way to see the Korean Couture exhibit. The fashion was amazing. To think about the time and dedication a single print would take to produce brings to mind how important our dressings and presentations of ourselves have been all throughout history. The man (or woman) hours required to produce even a yard of this ancient and beautiful fabric is mind numbing. From the ancient to the contemporary, the halls were lined with mannequins displaying the beautiful and historically inspired garbs. Glamorous wedding gowns, simple pencil skirts, a beautiful sundress, and a coat made of teddy bears. All of this and more were on display and so much fun to observe and study.

The night was winding down and we were settling to meet somewhere for a nightcap. As we were leaving, I was amazed at the number of people with their arms still up, twisting and turning their bodies as DJ Big Sana continued to blast out the frequency and tones that inspired them all to move. It was a fantastic night, a great time, and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. I will be back for other MIX events, as well as the other events hosted by The Cleveland Museum of Art. Check it out sometime, and maybe I’ll see you there.