Noth Korean Art Found Has No Market Impact

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
May 9th 2010 at 11:02PM

Usually, when rare art is discovered, the auction houses go crazy, and collectors salivate. Well, when the discoveries come in North Korea, there's little the art market can do to participate. Nine pieces depicting Kim Il Sung were discovered, according to the state news service, Korea Central News Agency (so, a grain of salt is necessary, here). Reportedly, the artwork dates "back to the period of the anti-Japanese armed struggle" and "highly laud[s] him as a central figure in the national liberation struggle and the invincible and iron-willed commander who led huge enemy troops by the nose."

Needless to say, I've never seen a piece by Picasso described this way ... and certainly not one by Damien Hirst.

The works are said to be of historical significance, apparently fitting into the historical tradition of works that "truthfully deal with the noble traits of the President who left lots of legends about his love for people behind."

Though indirect, the pieces are suggested to be the work of Kimg Jong Suk, Kim Il Sung's first wife and, according to the KCNA, "a great pioneer of the anti-Japanese revolutionary fine art and a forerunner in creating fine art works depicting the leader."

Tags: art market, dprk, Kim Il Sung, north korea