Delving into this fascinating and unique piece of North Korean art by artist Ri Yun Sim entitled ‘Night at the Port’.
An evening scene as a crane operator catches up on her revolutionary reading.
In North Korea, ideological study is as much a part of the workplace. This is due to the fact that practical tasks manifest through study sessions, self-criticism and campaigns. The writing on the side of the crane reads ‘Speed Battle’. This is a slogan from 1974 that encouraged workers to accomplish projects at a breakneck pace.
The artwork places a woman as the crane operator. Indeed, in North Korea, there is a saying that ‘women turn half of the cartwheel’. This is to demonstrate equality in labour, though this is only in certain industries.
Ri uses a colour palette which contrasts warm oranges and pinks with greens.
There are no specific rules, but he picks up specific items such as the leg of the crane and the side of the lorry to emphasise the last light of the day. Thus, more emotive than simply using a darker shade of steel.
We worked with one of North Korea’s most famous linocut artists Hwang In Jae on a project looking at shipbuilding which involved him heading out to the east coast for sketching workers engaged in coastal industries.