March 2020
What are Propaganda Posters?
Just what are propaganda posters…?
At Koryo Studio, we’ve been working with North Korean artists for over 30 years. Our collection includes both Koryo Studio commissioned propaganda posters available for purchase, and original North Korean propaganda posters dating back from the 1950s. No one better than speaking to a local in helping you to answer the key question; “What are propaganda posters”.
In short…
Propaganda posters are political messages in graphic and slogan form which emphasise the revolutionary struggle and its achievements, or to remind the people of the fight against oppression and atrocities. Their purpose is to deliver a very clear and direct political messages of the Party and socialist way of life and spread the guidance of Korea’s leadership and the philosophy of the Juche Idea.
Interview with North Korean colleague, June 2020, Koryo Studio
Let’s explore this concept further.
WHAT
The propaganda poster 선전 It consists of a slogan and painted hand-painted composition. It may be printed as a poster (normally 680 x 320 mm), enlarged by hand-painting to place on a billboard, or replicated as a mosaic.
WHY
Their purpose is to deliver very clear and direct political or social messages of the Party and socialist way of life.
HOW
The graphic integrates historical, social and cultural elements carefully into the poster. Various techniques are used such as the use of montage (often showing elements of Pyongyang or industry), specific colours (for example red to create a sense of urgency, light blue for unification), symbols and repeatred motifs (such as doves for peace, Juche Tower representing the country’s philosophy). The propaganda poster is not considered fine art, per se.
Let’s Use all the Reserves!
Gouache and Acrylic on Paper
Size: 60x90cm
ID: PP039
Although it is known who the artist of a certain work is, it is extremely rare to have them actually sign the piece. If the work is printed then the name of the artists, printing house, print-run and date is shown.
An Introduction to the Propaganda Poster
Propaganda Poster Breakdown
The DPRK propaganda poster is intended as a short-lived piece.. as the policies change, the posters follow.
The ‘task of a poster is in cultivating workers with the advanced communist ideology’. Posters must be more direct, they must reflect decision directives of the Party without delay, and possess a propaganda function that, by infiltrating them into the working masses in time, inspires and agitates workers who have risen to the realization of Party policies.
Cho In Gyu, Chosun Misul 1960’s
Why do they use posters?
Since the liberation of Korea from the Japanese in 1945 (followed immediately by its division) the propaganda poster has delivered a clear visual message, easily understood even without having read the simple slogan- according to North Korean sources at this time two-thirds of school-age children did not attend primary school, and most adults, were illiterate. Posters were a relatively low cost means of getting the governments message across in an eye-catching way. Their reach is everywhere and on a daily basis, from the stairwell of apartments, along the streets to the factory floor. The idea being that the message wrapped in a visual package draws attention and whether directly or in a sub-conscious manner it is absorbed. The intention is that the poster informs and guides the individual according to the directive the poster espouses.
The poster art follows in the tradition of socialist realism, not one of life as it really is but one of life as it ought to be. If it is a poster to encourage production then everything is bucolic, new, in full working order, as if seen through rose tinted glasses but it is also recognizable to the viewer to make the scene believable and applicable to their daily life. If it is a poster to remind one of imperialist aggression or corruption then the impact has to strike people to the core, to remind them of the messaging they have received since childhood on the dangers of the imperialist who is hell bent on destroying their country and way of life.
A couple of Propaganda Poster themes to get you started!
Reunification
Posters on reunification were popular during the few periods where north/south relations improved, 1980, 2000 and 2007.
Below, we see an example of a reunification poster which depicts the revolutionary unification spirit triumphing over superior technology.
The three characters are; the South Korean (always in the headband), the North Korean, and the Korean expatriate. As the term implies, it conveys the idea that all Koreans should unite as one for reunification and share the same goal of reunification without foreign interference, regardless of their ideology, political views, beliefs, social status, and nationality.
Sweep Away the Reactionary Group that Submits to Foreign Forces!
Gouache and Acrylic on Paper
Size: 103x80cm
ID: PP078
Details
Reunification
Korea is One!
Anti-reunification Force / Anti-Republic
For those who have visited North Korea, you may have heard of “Single-hearted Unity” [일심단결, Il-Sim-Tan-Kyol].
Single-hearted Unity emphasizes that everyone should follow the Party’s leadership single heartedly. Generally, North Korean propaganda artists use 4 identities to represent the masses; an army soldier, an engineer/steel worker, an intellectual and a farmer. According to tradition, the first three are men, and the farmer a woman.
The military soldier is always in front of everyone else. This links to the ideological background – Songun ideology [선군사상, son-gun-sa-sang]. Songun literally means ‘military-first’ and it is the ideology which places the nation’s army above all the other sectors.
North Korean president Kim Il Sung first mentioned this ideology in 1930 at the Karyun Conference, and president Kim Jong Il marked its full-scale implementation on his visit to Tapaksol Guard Post in 1995, the year after Kim Il Sung’s death.
Let’s Dignify Songun Korea!
Gouache and Acrylic on Paper
Size: 99.5x69cm
ID: PP005
Details
Soldier, engineer, intellectual, and farmer.
Single-hearted Unity
‘Women Turn Half of the Cartwheel of History’
Battle
In North Korea, intensive construction periods are considered to be a “battle”. For example, the “200-day battle”, “70-day battle” and “speed battle”.
You can almost hear the demagogue chanting: “Follow me!”. The engineers and farmers in the background run obediently along the directed path just as the masses should follow the Party line. You will notice the workers and farmers are always maintaining their smile and optimism in the labor scene. Even during the Arduous March when the country suffered economic problems and starvation the image was of optimistic workers. We spoke with North Korean artists about this:
During this period, revolutionary slogans attempted to give an optimistic stimulus to the people with slogans such as :
“Do the people live as independent people or become slaves to imperialism?”
“Let’s not live for today, but for tomorrow!”
It contains a noble view of life in which people should live with a determination to devote himself for the brighter future of the country and of their descendants, even if though they can’t live in joy today.
“Let’s smile even in rough times!”
Propaganda artists aim to portray an optimistic image showing the pride, and dignity of the workers who are undaunted by their hard tasks, who have a personal attitude and response to the leadership and the party’s policies.
Koryo Studio interveiw with propaganda artist 2008
Everybody to the Creation of Mallima Speed Movement!
Gouache and Acrylic on Paper
Size: 99.5x69cm
ID: PP049
Details
Scienctific techniques
Report on the review of the work of the Central Committee at the 7th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea
Workers and farmers always maintain their smile and optimism.
