Nylon | North Korean Film Set Posters
Nylon
Artist: Han Jong Sil
Year: 2003
Medium: Gyclee Print on art paper
Edition: of 20
Size: A3
Price: 120 EUR
ID: P005
Pyongyang Film Studio
The North Korean Film Studio was established in 1947. It built permanent sets to shoot pro-revolutionary films that were very much against the Japanese colonization of the country and the US presence in South Korea. Now, they are currently renovating the Pyongyang Film Studio.
Over the years, artists from the Pyongyang Film Studio were instructed to paint advertisements and hoardings to make the sets look realistic and to create a North Korean view of foreign street scenes.
The posters North Korean artists dreamt up as ‘imperialist advertising’ and previously used to make the streets more authentic are being removed.
Nylon
Take a second look at this bizarre poster “NYLON”.
Used as a backdrop for films set in South Korea, this is decadence and sensuality at its most intense. Clad in a low-cut dress, the heavily made-up woman is touching her hair and talking on the phone.
Taken together this indicates, at best, a vacant brain and frivolous nature. Even more notably her right arm joins with her left leg, while her right leg is entirely separated from her body – quite unusual indeed.
This is a remarkable artwork where the white cloud-like dress floats in an intense blue sky background.
The Text
What’s more, given that the characters below read ‘Nylon’, we know this has something to do with advertising women’s stockings. But whatever the context, the image itself will be read by any North Koreans as showing frivolity and louche lifestyles facilitated by foreign luxuries.
These are both things looked down upon.
Laktogen
Artist: Han Jong Sil
Year: 2003
Medium: Gyclee Print on art paper
Edition: of 20
Size: A3
Price: 120 EUR
ID: P006
Oasis
Artist: Han Jong Sil
Year: 2003
Medium: Gyclee Print on art paper
Edition: of 20
Size: A3
Price: 120 EUR
ID: P001
Lamer Hair Salon
Artist: Han Jong Sil
Year: 2003
Medium: Gyclee Print on art paper
Edition: of 20
Size: A3
Price: 120 EUR
ID: P002
Yakgodyo
Artist: Han Jong Sil
Year: 2003
Medium: Gyclee Print on art paper
Edition: of 20
Size: A3
Price: 120 EUR
ID: P006
