Avert the fate of wondering souls

Comment

Comment by Haejae Lee on June 7, 2011 at 9:24am

Thank you very much.

Comment by Resident Curator on June 7, 2011 at 9:10am

Thanks so much for the information- it makes me like it even more.

Comment by Haejae Lee on June 6, 2011 at 10:22pm

It is loosely translated "You can't avert the fate of the wondering souls even if you try!". It is from one of many propaganda posters generated by army of government-operated art studio in North Korea.  Although both North and South Koreans basically speak the same language, it is actually very different.  The text is actually from anti-American poster but still can't understand the expression within the context.  I read the text in Korean and my reaction was "say what?" You can replace the text with any image and the impact is just about the same - very real and made-up.  You might as well have two busty ladies caught in some strange web of madness with Little Kim holding up his fist.  Now you have the fate of wondering souls for sure.

Comment by Resident Curator on June 6, 2011 at 9:25pm

Can you please share the translation of the text?  It's such an interesting piece.

Comment by Haejae Lee on June 6, 2011 at 8:44pm

Much appreciate your comment.  Thank you.

Comment by Resident Curator on June 6, 2011 at 12:44pm

Curator’s Comment:

 

Avert the Fate of Wandering Souls is a darkly humorous, but emblematic work.  Below the surface of the super-hero graphics are conflicting and disturbing connotations. Kim Jong-il’s familiar hand wave is central to the tondo frame, but he is clad in plain green garb (military?) and stripped of his notorious sunglasses.  Flanked by two buxom pin-up type female figures, Kim Jong commands the space. But the female figures turn away from him, averting the viewers attention as well.  The web behind them provides a graphic grid, but connotes an ominous tangle of distant space. Moreover, the red phallic missiles on top project absolute power turned in on itself, as they are directed back, behind Kim Jong- il.  For me, the bright red lettering below also harkens to Soviet posters, and urgency is communicated even without the benefit of translation.