2016
Underwater & Space: The Future is Bright
A series of 17 original linocuts depicting man’s exploration of the furthest reaches of our universe: outer space and the ocean floor.
The works are a collaboration between Koryo Tours founder Nicholas Bonner and North Korean artist Kim Kwang Nam. At time of publication, the series has been exhibited at Shanghai Design Exhibition, Jorgensen Gallery (University of Connecticut) and the Anna Schwartz Gallery, (Melbourne).
Our story
Having grown up under the influence of the Cold War in Britain and North Korea respectively, the two men share a nostalgia for the imagery of their childhoods. North Korea and the West have a shared history of publishing adventure comics and books about adventures in space and underwater. The Future is Bright is the result of these shared memories and is, in part, a response to that pre-existing dialogue.
As with many of the projects Bonner has worked on in North Korea, this series developed through the input of both parties, but using the highly developed skills of the North Korean artist to create the final pieces. Kim trained at Pyongyang Central Art Academy and after qualification worked at the prestigious Mansuade Art Studio, specializing in linocut.
Selected Artworks
Local Space Transport
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 42 x 59 cm
ID:L015
Undersea World
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 59.5 x 70 cm
ID:L016
Conservation of the Sea
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 42 x 59 cm
ID:L017
Running Low on Oxygen
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 42 x 59 cm
ID:L018
Reflection of Rocket
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 60 x 69.5 cm
ID:L019
Satellite Maintenance
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 42 x 59 cm
ID:L020
World Rescue Team
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 42 x 59 cm
ID:L021
Deep Space Mining
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 42 x 59 cm
ID:L022
Underwater Research
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 99 x 40 cm
ID:L023
Animals and Plants
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 40 x 99 cm
ID:L024
Filtration Under the Sea
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 40 x 99 cm
ID:L025
Planet Survey
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 40 x 99 cm
ID:L026
Animals
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 40 x 99 cm
ID:L027
Inside the Submarine
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 29.5 x 99 cm
ID:L028
Space Scene
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 40 x 99 cm
ID: L029
Spaceman Reflected in Helmet
Year: 2015
Kim Kwang Nam
Linocut on high gloss paper
Size: 40 x 99 cm
ID:L030