Art exhibitions featuring the realistic, soviet style propaganda artwork have become all the rage in the developed world, including an officially endorsed exhibition in Vienna last year and a more recent display in Moscow. Another exhibit in my native Ontario, Canada can be viewed at the Univeristy of Toronto Art Centre, running from January 18 to March 19 2011:
North Korean Images at Utopia’s Edge spans three decades and features 24 wood block prints from the Nicholas Bonner Collection. These prints offer a fascinating picture of North Korean conceptions of daily life and work, family and "Fatherland." Four subject areas delineate the contours of North Korea’s vision of an earthly paradise: harmonious families, plenteous landscapes, male laborers and women at work.
The exhibit features 24 works of art from the private collection of Nicholas Bonner, co-founder of Koryo Tours. I’m going to try to get out and see this exhibit while it’s still around, and will post more at that time. Admission is free, and hours and directions can be found at the UTAC website.
Source: University of Toronto Art Centre
