Ileona (Stand Up)

Ileona (Stand Up)
Phil Choo, 2009
Digital Print on Archival Linen Cotton Canvas Paper
Design Museum, Walker Hall

Out of all the exhibits in the Design Museum, this design artwork is my favorite. It astonishes me how this was printed on a flat piece of paper but looks absolutely three-dimensional. The letters do not only "stand up" in their sentences but also stand out as if they are popping out from the paper. The phrase “stand up” actually standing up juxtaposes against the rest of the words and brings attention to those words. It gives life to the phrase and enhances the meaning of the song.

Ileona is a Korean song that "inspires people to stand up from despair and dejection." This is quite appropriate if applied to today's economic crisis. With the increasing amount of unemployment in America, this inspires people to "stand up" despite this time of hardship and to continue to look for jobs without giving up hope.