August 2022
Koryo Studio Collection Printed Poster;
Pay Attention to the Risk of Fire
Pay Attention to the Risk of Fire Printed Poster Background
A printed poster from the Koryo Studio collection (and therefore not for sale). This piece dates back from 1961.
You can see the main slogans ‘Pay attention to the risk of fire’ (top) and ‘Let’s prevent fire and save our valuable socialist achievement!’ (bottom).
The smaller images depict areas which are at fire risk: Do not smoke in the mountains!
Printed Poster City Montage
Of particular interest is the city montage.
Montages of Pyongyang are often used in North Korean propaganda posters to demonstrate the rebirth of the city following the aerial bombing it received during the Korean War (1950-53). The smoking industrial chimneys, the rich harvest thanks to the mechanization of agriculture, along with cranes for construction. These all depict the positive pace of change and improvements to the seat of power. This is a demonstration of a strong and prosperous country.
Inclusion of Contemporary Buildings
Furthermore, notable is also the inclusion of the 6th century Taedong Gate (representing the long & rich Korean history) alongside contemporary buildings, built in the Korean style but using modern construction methods.
Examples are the Pyongyang Grand Theatre and the Okryu Restaurant. Both of these were completed in 1960.
The printed poster also shows the 1958 Pyongyang Railway station (Stalin baroque style). Plus, it shows a block of Russian-built flats from the 1960s.
The state is renovating many of these vestiges of the past with a rather tacky modern look. Or, as in the case of the Russian flats, sadly now demolished.
