Women at Work
North Korean linocuts made by People’s Artist
We commissioned 12 works by Hwang In Jae in 2012, on the theme of employment for women. This work is characterised by skilled draftsmanship, cutting and a poetic use of colour palette. The beauty of his work lies in his ability to catch the rhythm of a piece, to make it reflect the actual job the female protagonist is employed in , from the simplicity and delicacy of ‘Friendly Bus Conductor’ to the boldness and pace of ‘Propaganda Unit’ . Hwang undertook the work from observations in Pyongyang and references to his notes and sketches used on his regular trips to the countryside.
There is a limited edition of ten pieces per print and Koryo Studio will keep the first edition. The early editions will be kept as full sets (12 x 2/10- 5/10) and sold at a discounted rate but individual prints from 5/10 upwards are for sale.
This is truly a remarkable opportunity to purchase works by North Korea’s finest linocut artist on one of his few external commissions.
About the artist
Hwang In Jae
Linocut artist and painter
(1943-2015)
Hwang was born in Changchun City China, studied in Pyongyang and graduated from the University of Fine Arts in 1968. He moved to the main art studio in Pyongyang in the late 1970’s and was honoured with various prizes and the title of People’s Artist (the highest award). We had the honour of working with Hwang in the last decade of his life, a wonderfully talented artist and a great personality. His works are extremely collectable (we have several older pieces in our collection) and we were fortunate not only to be the only foreigners to commission him directly but also to receive two other bodies of work: ‘Heroines and Villains’, ‘Ship Building’
A number of his works are in the collection of the British Museum and ‘The fairy of the Kumgang Mountains’ (2009) is in the Queensland Art Gallery collection (commission by Koryo Studio for the Sixth Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art). His works are also to be found in Phaidon’s publication ‘Printed in North Korea’ by Nicholas Bonner.
Artworks
Traffic Policewoman (Winter)
Year: 2012
Size: 71 x 65 cm
Artist: Hwang In Jae
Price: 1600 EUR
ID: L035
Traffic Policewoman
Year: 2012
Size: 59 x 69 cm
Artist: Hwang In Jae
Price: 1600 EUR
ID: L036
Train Controller
Year: 2012
Size: 49 x 70 cm
Artist: Hwang In Jae
Price: 1600 EUR
ID: L037
Bus conductor
Year: 2012
Size: 49 x 69 cm
Artist: Hwang In Jae
Price: 1600 EUR
ID: L038
Clam Fishers
Year: 2012
Size: 52 x 70 cm
Artist: Hwang In Jae
Price: 1600 EUR
ID: L039
Propaganda Artists
Year: 2012
Size: 52 x 70 cm
Artist: Hwang In Jae
Price: 1600 EUR
ID: L040
Subway Conductor
Year: 2012
Size: 63 x 69 cm
Artist: Hwang In Jae
Price: 1600 EUR
ID: L041
Tour Guide
Year: 2012
Size: 52 x 69 cm
Artist: Hwang In Jae
Price: 1600 EUR
ID: L042
Rice Planting
Year: 2012
Size: 51 x 70 cm
Artist: Hwang In Jae
Price: 1600 EUR
ID: L043
Friendly Bus conductor
Year: 2012
Size: 69 x 49 cm
Artist: Hwang In Jae
Price: 1600 EUR
ID: L044
Propaganda Unit
Year: 2012
Size: 48 x 69 cm
Artist: Hwang In Jae
Price: 1600 EUR
ID: L045
Artworks featured in Commissions are available for sale. Please inquire with us about availability.
