Gwangju Biennale to host 22 North Korean artworks

“Rainshower at the bus stop” by Kim In-sok, 2018. Courtesy of Gwangju Biennale Foundation (217x433cm)

• Published Jul 26, 2018 9:38 AM KST
• Updated Oct 22, 2018 9:15 PM KST

By Jung Da-min

Twenty-two works by North Korean artists will be on display Sep. 7 to Nov. 11 at the 12th Gwangju Biennale, titled “Imagined Borders.” “North Korean Art: Paradoxical Realism” is one of the exhibition's seven sections.

The North Korean works are part of a collection from the Mansudae Art Studio's Beijing branch and the U.S.-based Yedo Arts Foundation in Washington, D.C. They were originally produced at the Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang.

Five of the 22 works ― which are up to five meters high ― were created in 2016 and 2017.

Most will be on public display for the first time. In total, 32 artists have contributed to the North Korean section.

The finished version of “Rainshower at the bus stop,” by North Korean painter Kim In-sok, will be displayed for the first time after four years of work. The piece was shown at many exhibitions abroad while unfinished.

With the approval of the Ministry of Unification, the organizing committee sent invitations to three North Korean painters ― Kim Song-min, Choe Chang-ho and Kim in-Sok.

“North Korean figure paintings look three dimensional and look like oil paintings,” said BG Muhn, the curator of the North Korean section at the biennale. “They differentiate themselves from modern oriental figure paintings in Korea, Japan and China.”