Monet Through Modern Eyes: LG Philippines' Digital Innovation at Monet & Friends Alive

In a groundbreaking cultural endeavor, LG Philippines proudly announces its role as the Exhibit Partner for the Monet & Friends Alive. The exhibit has been enchanting art lovers at the BGC Arts Center since January. This marks a significant milestone as the Philippines hosts this immersive adventure into French Impressionism for the first time, bringing the timeless beauty of Claude Monet and his contemporaries to life in a way never before seen in the country.

Monet & Friends Alive, created and produced by the renowned Grande Experiences, offers a multi-sensory journey through the vibrant era of 19th century Europe. The exhibition, presented by the Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. and made possible with the support of Del Monte Philippines, TicketWorld, LG Philippines, Alveo, and the City Government of Taguig, promises an unforgettable experience that celebrates over 150 years of Impressionist art.

LG Philippines, leveraging its expertise in cutting-edge digital display technology, transforms the BGC Arts Center into a canvas where the Impressionists' masterpieces are not just seen but felt. Following the success of Van Gogh Alive, LG continues to innovate, using state-of-the-art LG digital screens in the Art Studio and lobby to enhance the visual journey. These screens showcase the intricate details and vibrant colors of the artworks, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the bold brushstrokes and delicate hues of Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Cézanne, Degas, and more.

The exhibition's immersive technology, set to a powerful classical score, brings the art to life with an incredible application of light, allowing visitors to experience the Impressionists' depictions of modernity, movement, light, and shadow in a dynamic display. Through LG's innovative displays strategically placed in the Art Studio and lobby, the rich tapestry of colors, sounds, and even fragrances envelop the audience, offering a new perspective on the iconic images that have captivated generations.

LG TVs provide a clear exhibit virtual tour at the lobby

Art enthusiasts replicate Monet's 'The Japanese Footbridge' through an instructional video played in LG OLED TVs in the Art Studio

LG Philippines managing director Nakhyun Seong expressed his excitement with the new installation, saying "LG Philippines is thrilled to be at the forefront of blending technology with art, making the masterpieces of the Impressionist era accessible in a new and exhilarating way. Our partnership with the Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. and Grande Experiences for Monet & Friends Alive exemplifies our commitment to enhancing cultural experiences through technology."

The exhibition opened on January 31, 2024, at the BGC Arts Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, for a strictly limited season. Don't miss this chance to witness the breathtaking beauty of French Impressionism come alive, illuminated by LG's unparalleled digital display technology.

Life’s about more than having the latest technology, rather, it’s about the experiences technology creates that impact our lives. LG Electronics Philippines delivers consumer electronics through top-of-the-line home entertainment, home appliances, and air solution products that prepare Filipinos for their greatest moments. LG promises to bring “Innovation for a Better Life” nationwide – from Luzon, to Visayas, and Mindanao. For more details, follow LG Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Tiktok. LG products are available in all authorized dealers nationwide both in-store and online. Visit lg.com/ph for a complete list of our retail partners. You can also visit LG’s Official Flagship Stores in Lazada and Shopee.

Read More

Director Adam Wingard Returns to Helm and Raises the Stakes in "Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

See the combined forces of Kong and Godzilla like never before in the ultimate titan team-up, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Kong’s journey to find his family leads to an undiscovered layer of Hollow Earth, and with it, the most dangerous threat to mankind yet.

Given the success of the previous film, the epic monster mash Godzilla vs. Kong, director, story writer and executive producer Adam Wingard decided to go another route for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. “I remember even as we were completing the last movie, that was the thing in the back of my mind. ‘Where do you go from here?’,” he says. “The characters—now that they’ve fought together, they’ve been in movies together—it’s pretty hard to imagine doing another movie without them. Once you put Godzilla and Kong together you can’t take them apart, but they’re never gonna get along really all that well. They both have too big of egos, and so what’s fun about them is that even when they do team-up, there’s always gonna be this sort of uneasy truce to it all,” he explains further, talking about what kind of relationship audiences will expect between the Titans.

As their relationship changes, audiences can look forward to Godzilla and Kong going through their own evolution as well. “In Godzilla vs. Kong, it was really important to me to make sure that there was continuity between the other movies—that Godzilla felt like the Godzilla that we had established in the Monsterverse, and Kong also felt like the same character. But for me, I was looking forward to having my opportunity to update the character, to give him a new look, and I didn’t want it to just be something that was just a random thing,” Wingard says, explaining his vision for the Titans’ updated look. “I wanted it to be driven by the story, and so I knew even at the early development phases, that I wanted to give Godzilla a new look, but I wanted to make sure that it was also motivated by something going on in the movie and that we would actually see the evolution happen within the film.”

The reason for the legendary team-up between the two Titans? A mysterious, powerful new villain: Skar King. “When you have a movie called Godzilla x Kong, you can’t just have another run-of-the-mill kind of situation for them to be in. You have to come up with something that is going to require a team to take it down,” says Wingard about how Skar King is going to shake things up for the duo. “Because of the humanity within Kong’s character, we were able to come up with a villain like the Skar King—it opened the door where we could tell that same ‘evil side of humanity’ story, but from the monster perspective, and that means creating an even bigger threat that the Skar King is in control of. In the way that humans have armies and weapons of mass destruction, the Skar King’s got his version of that, and it’s gonna take all the hero monsters in the world to band together to be able to stop him.”

Finally, Wingard talks about what people can expect in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, being inspired by the monster movies of old. “[Because] ultimately, I wanted to make not just another Monsterverse film, but a thrill ride like you’ve never seen before. I wanted it to be a mic drop moment for monster movies. Whatever kind of movies I make in the future, as far as monsters go, I want this to say everything, and I want to be able to walk away knowing that we did everything… and the kitchen sink!”

Get ready for the ultimate monster movie as Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire storms into Philippine cinemas on March 30.

Read More

A bellycious adventure awaits Po in Kung Fu Panda 4

Po the Dragon Warrior is back with a new adventure!

In Kung Fu Panda 4, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Golden Globe nominee Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace.

“When Po steps into the shoes of Spiritual Leader, you get to see his whole internal struggle,” says Black, who himself steps back into Po’s shoes almost a decade after the third film. “He has the Staff of Wisdom, but he’s scratching his head wondering if he knows anything about wisdom at all. This chapter is like Po’s mid-kung fu-life crisis. More wisdom, fewer dumplings, but the same lovable Po.”

It’s the same lovable Po but in an entirely new adventure. “The Kung Fu Panda world continually evolves and expands,” DreamWorks Animation President Margie Cohn says. “Of all the journeys Po has been on, this story is his most emotional and exciting. As Po faces new challenges and characters like Zhen [played by Awkwafina], and the most menacing opponent the Valley of Peace has ever seen in The Chameleon, this film takes him, and in turn the audience, on a fantastical new adventure.”

Ensuring the continued success of this monumental franchise required the expertise of a director deeply immersed in its essence. Enter Mike Mitchell, a seasoned director with an impressive repertoire that includes iconic franchises Shrek and Trolls, and contributions to all the previous Kung Fu Panda films.

“My goal in any franchise, especially my favorites, is to remind everyone of what made the first film great,” Mitchell says. “Kung Fu Panda has a timeless quality, and we wanted to emphasize that. We wanted to infuse even more action, pushing boundaries with new camera techniques not explored in animation before. Think of cool GoPro-style action, typically seen in live-action films. We aimed to bring that dynamic energy into the animated world, and what better canvas than a Kung Fu Panda film? Our aim was to create the biggest and best installment of this franchise, with a grander scale, more humor and the best action yet.”

A spark in all of us
A lot of that action is thanks to all the trouble caused by this installment’s formidable new villain Chameleon, voiced by Oscar winner Viola Davis, who attributes the franchise’s enduring popularity to its characters being reluctant heroes. “I think that sparks something in all of us,” Davis says. “Po doesn’t necessarily look like a warrior, but it sparks the imagination and allows the viewer to envision what they can become. It feels great to be part of this group now. I’ve always wanted to do an animated movie, and with this film, I felt like the right character and the right group of people found me, and I’m just happy to be in their company.”

For Awkwafina (voice of Zhen), another newcomer to the franchise, joining the Kung Fu Panda family holds personal significance. “It means a lot to me because this isn’t just an animated franchise, it’s a beloved world that’s resonated with audiences for so many years. And being able to contribute to a film that pays homage to the beauty of Chinese culture adds an extra layer of personal significance.”

A must-watch for the entire family, Kung Fu Panda 4, also featuring the voices of Dustin Hoffman, James Hong, Bryan Cranston, Ian McShane and Ke Huy Quan and distributed by Universal Pictures International, now in cinemas.

Read More