ruminations about architecture and design

Monday, November 1, 2010

north korea again (or so I've been told)


From a link at the Marginal Revolution Blog--a series of images of North Korean artwork.
This happened to be the most architectural looking painting so I'll use it as the basis for all of my sweeping generalizations.
I do not understand North Korea and doubt that anyone else does either. I predict that things there will end poorly, and that they will persist for a longer period of time than seems reasonable.
This image, which seems to depict an attractive and relatively calm urban streetscape, is probably even more of an illusion than if it were depicting some place in Boston (to which it bears a remarakable resemblance). Does the lack of cars signify anything? Can the rain be interpreted as a criticism of the state? Are the puddles in the road a commentary on poor engineering?
A legitimate art historian could probably ask and answer better questions.

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