Korean Art Exhibition: Initiative and Modern Techniques

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Korean Art Exhibition: Initiative and Modern Techniques

A vibrant exhibition is being held at the Embassy of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in London, over the two days Friday and Saturday, September 21 and 22. Many distinguished guests were invited to a reception at the opening of the exhibition marking the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which falls on October 10. The exhibition displayed work by the Korea Paekho Trading Corporation, which specialises in fine arts and architectural decorations. The event was held to expand friendship and co-operation between the DPRK and Britain in the field of fine arts.

The exhibition featured paintings, panoramas and posters. The event was addressed by Mr Pak Chang Sop who is now the President of Korea Paekho Trading Corporation, and who was awarded with the Kim Il Sung Prize and honour of People’s Artist, which is the highest award for an artist in the DPRK. In his presentation, the People's Artist pointed out that the advances made in this work and the development of the innovative techniques have been carried out under the guidance of the General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, Kim Jong Il. Mr Pak Chang Sop was also in Britain for an International Panorama Conference.

The panorama that is being displayed is an oil-based feature on the construction of a dam in the Netherlands, which ran down one whole side of the Embassy grounds, perhaps as many as 25 metres long. It examined both past and present, and exemplified the construction of the dam and the work that went into building it. With both use of colour and texture the panorama shows both depth and realism. From the details of the boats in the past to the wind turbines in the present the panorama is a truly modern work, giving a subjective view of the experience and reflecting how we apply that experience today. Also on display were paintings created by a new Korean initiative and modern technique of jewel-powder painting. The paintings are covered in jewel dust which then keeps the artwork from decaying in any way, which means even immersion in water cannot affect it. One such painting was "The White Tiger" (the meaning of "Paekho" in English) depicting the Korean tiger in the wild; the painting is both fierce and beautiful. Other paintings were done in oil. "Pledging Revenge" depicts a Korean soldier carrying a child in the aftermath of a US attack. The painting is emotive evoking the horrors of imperialist aggression and the power of human beings to not only carry on their lives in the face of such barbarity but to then go on and destroy imperialism. Another oil painting was "At The Construction Site", depicting workers who are happy in their job in a socialist society. There were also examples of Korean design. On show were designs and drawings of fountains, buildings, monuments, etc. The designs showed both the initiative and the creative thinking of the DPRK artists.

"Panorama on the construction of a dam in the Netherlands"

The Netherlands is not the only place that the DPRK has worked concerning art and design. The DPRK has produced many works for countries such as Egypt, Syria, Kuwait and Mali. Works for such countries have been in the form of monuments, fountains, panoramas and museums. So it can be said that the art and design of DPRK is upheld throughout the world, and is leading the way in new initiatives in this front of art and design that reflects the people and their culture. WDIE fully supports the people of DPRK in the face of Anglo-American interference and big power bullying to show to the world that they are a people of great culture and initiative.

"Paintings emotive evoking the horrors of imperialist aggression and the power of human beings
to not only carry on their lives in the face of such barbarity but to then go on and destroy imperialism"

"On show were designs and drawings of fountains, buildings, monuments, etc."