MASALA DAY

Masala brings different spices together to create flavor. Each has its own aroma, yet together they produce something distinctive and new. Could the people who live and work in the same neighborhood come together in a similar way? To mark Buddha’s Birthday, OTP COMPANY organized MASALA DAY, a party exploring the idea of conviviality—living and enjoying life together. Held in Hoehyeon on May 24, 2026, the day came with a simple invitation: “All Flavors Welcome.”

Once again, food was at the heart of the gathering. (Did you know that “company” has its roots in the idea of sharing bread?) We brought together spice curry from food creative collective TyCoooN and traditional Korean drinks from Namchon Gaju, a shop near Hoehyeon Station where we often stop to pick up drinks with our studio colleagues. Alongside them, a market featured ceramics by ADAM, kitchen and home goods by GUIITA, and singing bowls by YOGANIK. We invited neighbors working in different fields to share one space, hoping that an interest in food and drink might lead to discoveries in everyday objects and personal taste. Someone coming for curry might leave with a new favorite local brand.

TyCoooN prepared delicious curry and makgeolli lassi made with rice wine specially sourced by Namchon Gaju. They also hosted something beyond the food and drinks: a workshop called Spice You Up, where participants blended spices to make their own masala. Mixing with people they had just met, they explored conviviality through their hands and senses. Each person’s taste came through in the aromas they chose and the proportions they used. The same ingredients could yield very different blends—a fitting reflection of the gathering itself.

After two afternoon workshops, Haniwa and tjr3164 took over with DJ sets in the evening. We wanted the day to unfold at an easy pace: taste the food, browse the market, make something, then stay a little longer for the music. OTP served as the moderator, bringing the participating teams and programs together and coordinating the flow of the day. We shaped the party so that people arriving for different reasons could spend time in the same space and become curious about one another.

What we really wanted to create through MASALA DAY was a reason for neighbors to meet. A plate of curry, a freshly mixed spice blend, an object or a piece of music that catches your attention—any of these can give strangers plenty to talk about. Organizing a party is hard work, but it is also a pleasure. You get to make room for new encounters and conversations. Could something discovered here lead to another walk through the neighborhood, or a visit to a local shop? As people who love Hoehyeon—a neighborhood whose name evokes a gathering of good-hearted people—we wanted to explore that possibility through a day of food, aromas, and sound.

The rain turned a poster we’d put up on the street into a beautiful, one-of-a-kind edition. We scanned it as a keepsake. There’s always something delightful about the beauty that happens by chance!