Kim Song-gun


Kim Song-gun is a North Korean painter. He works at the Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang.

Life

Kim was born in 1945. He initially worked as a blacksmith for 3 years. After his military service, he started working for the Mansudae in 1971, and studied at Pyongyang University of Fine Arts from 1972 to 1975.

Work

Kim Song-gun is also called "Painter of the Waves" since he mostly paints sea and river sceneries with thunderous waters. Despite a very realistic depiction the paintings carry a subtle kind of modern abstraction achieved through the dramatic presentation of the waves.
One of those paintings, Waves of the Sea Kumgang, was noticed internationally due to a photo from Bill Clinton's 2009 [imprisonment of American journalists by North Korea#Bill Clinton's visit to North Korea|state visit to North Korea] in 2009 showing him sitting next to Kim Jong Il with the large green waves painting in the background.

Awards