Pro For Air Condition Residence Halls

Ahae: Through My Window

An exhibition by the Korean photographer Ahae at Veletržní Palace seems to perfectly epitomize two of Henry David Thoreau's Taoist-like paradoxes that the highest condition of art is artlessness and that he who stands stillest will get to the goal first.

"Through My Window," subtitled "Along the Path of Passing Time and Changing Seasons," presents a very small selection of the nearly 1 million pictures that Ahae took over the course of two years, almost entirely through a single window of his home in rural South Korea. The display of nearly 80 medium- and large-format prints offers viewers a contemplative stroll through the Korean countryside, and watching the responses of visitors on a late July afternoon, it is a well-appreciated respite from an unusually dreary Prague summer.

Ahae - who in addition to being an exceptionally prolific photographer is also an inventor and entrepreneur, a strong advocate of natural health and a longtime environmental activist - conveys his deep reverence for the natural world that is found in microcosm right in his own backyard. He rejects the paradox of setting off on expensive excursions to exotic locales to photograph wildlife. In keeping with his awareness of the carbon footprint such travel entails, accordingly he did not attend his exhibition opening in Prague, says exhibition assistant Hanka Bělohradská, though one of his sons was present. Ahae may be the ultimate "locavore" photographer.

This exhibition was organized for the artist's 70th birthday by his children, and there are several details that infuse the exhibition with a personal touch. The calming music piped into the exhibition space - the airy Large Hall on Veletržní Palace's ground floor - alternates Asian with European Baroque classical music and was mixed by the artist's son. As viewers exit the exhibition, they are offered a cup of delicious organic tea, Ahae's personal blend, grown on tea plantations he supervises in South Korea.

Early arrival causes irrational fears : Trinitonian

By Rachel Hannusch

I edged closer to the door, armed only with a hairbrush and my tenacious will to survive.

I was excited when I heard that I would have the opportunity to move into the Trinity residence halls a week early. I could move my belongings without having to navigate a sea of other box-carrying students, get settled in before classes start, choose the wall my bed would go on, place dibs on the best clothing pole in the closet — the possibilities were enthralling. I had forgotten, however, about how my overactive imagination would be paired with an empty room in an empty building with a micro-fridge that made demon noises. I was now experiencing the results of this oversight.

I had just summoned the willpower to take a shower. The building’s hot water hadn’t been turned on yet, which constrained me to one of those arctic chill showers, where you stand at an awkward angle in an attempt to get as little surface area under the stream of water as possible while still getting cleaned. As I picked up my hairbrush, I heard the noise from the other side of the bathroom door. What was that?! My mind raced through all the most likely possibilities: escaped convict mass-murderer, ghost, zombie, alien. Or could it have been the air conditioning cutting on? No, that’s silly. I was sure of it. Something, or someone, was in my room.

I lifted my hand so I was holding the hairbrush like a samurai sword and edged closer to the door. I gripped my weapon tighter as I walked cautiously towards what I viewed as certain death. It’s part of human nature, I suppose, this irrepressible urge to look behind the door and either confirm or dispel your worst fears.

I turned the door handle slowly to make sure the phantom didn’t hear me coming, then flung the door wide open. Nothing. I checked the closet, using the same advanced door-opening technique. Empty. I guess it really was just the air conditioning after all.

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