IM ALIVE

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THATS MORE THAN CAN BE SAID FOR MY COMPUTER....

STAY POSTED.

DPRK holga #2

Here is a photo of the juche tower in downtown pyong yang. This is one of the dominant landmarks in the pyongyang skyline. Even though there is a power shortage this is iluminated every night and the flame at the top is has animated lights. This monument is to the korean philosophy of juche.

The Juche Idea (주체사상, Juche Sasang) is the official state ideology of North Korea and the political system based on it. The doctrine is a component part of Kimilsungism, the North Korean term for Kim Il-sung's family regime.[1] Juche literally means "main body" or "subject"; it has also been translated in North Korean sources as "independent stand" and the "spirit of self-reliance". Other sources have revealed other interpretations.

Origin

Kim Il-sung advanced Juche as a slogan in a December 28, 1955, speech titled "On Eliminating Dogmatism and Formalism and Establishing Juche in Ideological Work" in rejection of the policy of de-Stalinization (bureaucratic self-reform) in the Soviet Union. The Juche Idea itself gradually emerged as a systematic ideological doctrine under the political pressures of the Sino-Soviet split in the 1960s. The word "Juche" also began to appear in untranslated form in English-language North Korean works from around 1965. Kim Il-sung outlined the three fundamental principles of Juche in his April 14, 1965, speech “On Socialist Construction and the South Korean Revolution in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”. The principles are "independence in politics" (chaju), "self-sustenance in the economy" (charip) and "self-defense in national defense" (chawi). Current North Korean leader Kim Jong-il officially authored the definitive statement on Juche in a 1982 document titled On the Juche Idea. He has final authority over the interpretation of the state ideology and incorporated the Songun (army-first) policy into it in 1996.

D.P.R.K holga #1

Here is the first holga from the DPRK. I have lots of stuff to post like maps and newspaper articles and propaganda posters but I have been crazy busy between work chinese classes and my many social obligations.

This is some kind of propaganda poster from the DMZ. These things were all over north korea and seemed were painted on stone slabs instead of your typical poster. They are very very permanent. I have no idea what it says so if anyone knows any one who is korean and can translate it for me that would be awesome.

holga

A uiygher woman from kashgar.

more visual amalgam post show info

my photos hung up in the visual amalgam show

here is an article online regarding the visaul amalgam show. Again I was not able to attend the event because of the fact that I was in dprk then back to beijing around the same time. If anyone of my 4-5 readers made it to the show please leave your imprression in the comments section.

The 2nd installation of the Visual Amalgam Art Show was an enormous success, with an estimated eight hundred people attending the event at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. The semi-annual event features the personal artwork of film industry and visual effects professionals.

Show organizers and artists, Patrick Finley and Evan Jacobs, were thrilled with the enthusiastic turnout for the show. “It really surpassed our expectations,” Jacobs said. “People starting trickling in during the day, even before all the art was hung on the walls! By the time the show was scheduled to start we had a packed house.”

The event lived up to its name, featuring an eclectic collection of artwork ranging from classical to contemporary, modern and abstract. Roughly one hundred and fifty paintings, photographs and sculptures adorned the walls of the James Gray Gallery for this year’s show, representing the work of twenty-five unique artists.

Patrons enjoyed the rare opportunity to meet most of the artists in person during the evening. Five-time Academy Award™ winning visual effects supervisor Ken Ralston, was on-hand, showing his still photography at the event, as was Academy Award™ winning visual effects supervisor Kevin Mack, who had several of his abstract dimensional math paintings on display. The feedback from the public was overwhelmingly positive and several artists sold pieces despite the turbulent economic climate. “Throughout the evening people kept telling me how much they enjoyed the collection,” recalls Finley. “It was an eclectic show and I think there really was something for everyone.”

The show proved to be an inspiration for the exhibiting artists as well, since many of them had not seen their fellow artist’s work before the show. Seven-time VFX Emmy Award™ winner, Dan Curry, whose paintings were featured at the event said, “It is always great to see what our respected colleagues create for themselves. It was inspiring work and a very enjoyable gathering.”

In fact, each of the exhibiting artists boasts impressive professional credentials within the film industry but in many cases their personal artwork has not been widely publicized or displayed. “It is always an effort to make time to wear the artist’s hat,” exhibiting photographer, Ash Beck relates. “Even though we are practicing artists every day, our personal art is what truly keeps our lives and professional work in perspective and balance.”

Painter and visual effects artist, Patrick Finley, conceived the Visual Amalgam Show back in 2006 as a way to help other artists get their work into the public eye. “There are some immensely talented people working behind the scenes and I knew many of them were fine artists as well,” Finley recalls. “The goal was to provide them with the opportunity to show their personal work to the public in a fine art gallery setting and with the 2008 show I think we really achieved that.”

The 2008 Visual Amalgam Show continues online at www.visualamalgam.com featuring artists Ken Ralston (“Forrest Gump”), Kevin Mack (“Speed Racer”), Albert Brenner (“Pretty Woman”), Dan Curry (“Star Trek”), John Swallow (“Hellboy II: The Golden Army”), Angie Jones (“Pan’s Labyrinth”), Ash Beck (commercials), Ben Rittenhouse (“Hulk”), Dainel Abramovitch (“The Brave One”), Ben Radcliffe (“Shrek 2”), Danny Dimian (“Polar Express”), Shannon Blake Gans (“Live Free or Die Hard”), Darren Lurie (“Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”), Eric Hanson (“Cast Away”), Eric Robertson (“The Da Vinci Code”), Evan Jacobs (“Resident Evil: Extinction”), Joe Strasser (“Beowulf”), Loic Zimmerman (“Hancock”), Owen Demers (“The Martix Revolutions”), Pam Hogarth (Gnomon School), Patrick Finley (“I Am Legend”), Snow Mack (“X-Men 2”), Vincent Serrittela (“Hancock”), Karen Murphy-Mundell (“Titanic”) and Richard Winn Taylor (“Tron”).

D.P.R.K. trip

ok I will get this started with some pics and then update the story later.

I like always shot everything on film so i stole these digitals from other people in my tour group.This is the infamous american tour group B standing in front of the great leaders 60m tall bronze statue!

These are the tour guides who are definately not spies... right!



Enjoying a little dog meat Steak in DPRK!


This is me sitting at the center of the table where the cease fire armistice agreement was signed.

post visual amalgam wrap up

So I didn'y go cause I live in china but here are some photos from the show reception.

I got lots of north korea stories and photos coming soon i promise.

holga

here is a random holga photo of the great wall

North Korea Update

So i am back from the Democratic peoples Republic of Korea. It was beyond words.

This was definitely one of those shakabuku life altering adventures. I am so blown away I feel like I have come to the end of the road and its weird being back in china and not sure what to do next with my life.

I am thinking just packing up and moving to Uzbekistan after winter is over.