
Virtual exhibition of the Korea Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale
North Korea section
contribution to the Golden Lion winning exhibition.

International participants were invited to respond to the theme ‘Absorbing Modernity’. Minsuk Cho, curator of the South Korean Pavilion, wanted to attempt an ambitious project that united both North and South Korean art, architecture and ideas. Unable to contact North Korean artists directly, Cho approached Koryo Studio who were able to make his vision a reality.
The following are a selection of the commissioned artworks from North Korean architects, and pieces from our collection, which were exhibited at the pavilion.



Year: 1954
Artist: Pae Un Song
Medium: Woodblock
Size: 305 x 255





Propaganda poster 505 x 740 printed in 1983.
Everything for the construction of Suncheon Vinyl Factory!



Year: 1988
Artist: Ji Tong Sok
Ink painting
Size: 147 x 233






Year: 1988
Artist: Kim Cheol In
Ink painting
Size: 1018 x 1410


우리동무 Our Comrade (book)
Street signs are not common in Pyongyang however markers which designate responsibilities of different work units for different parts of the street are.
DPRK made bicycles, promoting the idea that the country being self sufficient. Women were banned from riding bicycles in the mid 1990’s and again in the early 200’s (stating it was unsafe when it was more likely seen as unladylike).




Year: 1988
Artist: Kim Tal Hyon
Linocut






Goh Su Jin
1988
Ink painting








Year: 1981
Artist: Eun Hui
Linocut





July 1985
Roh Ui Kun, Workers Party Publications
Printed by Pyongyang Printing Factory
Size: 505 x 735




Slogan reads “Denounce the Foreign Power”

1981
Kim Pong Kun, Workers Party Publications
Printed by Pyongyang Printing Factory


BOTTOM: Off-set lithograph print taken from the original. The typeset information on printing house, artists name, date, and print-run information has been added.
Printed by Pyongyang Printing Factory








Gouache on paper; Size: 755 x 500


This commission allowed North Korean architects to explore ideas about sustainable tourism and the country’s unique architectural style, all through the lens of a collectivist society. Such perspective offered them an opportunity to express their creativity with more freedom than they are typically permitted and allowed the rest of the world to witness the vibrancy of North Korean artistic vision.








Year: 2014
Anonymous artist
Cover painting in water-colour




Architect and Director of Venice Architecture Biennale 2014