North Korea has been in the news, but most of what we hear is about denuclearization, summit meetings, and sanctions. But we don't hear much about the art and artists there.
| Women Looking at the New Salt Harvest. |
Members of the reigning Kim dynasty may only be portrayed by the artists from Mansudae Art Studio, and they must be shown smiling in heroic leadership poses. The style of the art resembles the art from Communist China during the Mao era.
| Photo from Color Magazine |
| Women pilots in North Korea. One holds a model airplane |
The artists don't all paint oil canvases of political scenes. They also paint misty mountain landscapes in traditional ink wash. There are also artists who specialize in pottery, other traditional crafts, and sculpture.
| Monument de la Renaissance Africaine, created by sculptors from North Korea |
Some American museums have been interested in collecting North Korean artwork, but because of the trade embargo, it's very difficult to acquire them.
Read more online:
Wikipedia: Mansudae Art Studio
Met Museum: Diamond Mountains: A Conversation with Curator Soyoung Lee
Colors Magazine: Official Portraiture in North Korea is made by one studio
Art F City A Brief Look at the North Korean Art Market
Vice News: Behind Mansudae: Art from the Biggest Studio in North Korea
Previously on GurneyJourney:
Posters from North Korea
Previously on GurneyJourney:
Posters from North Korea
