For ruler of socialist-communist countries, giant statues, murals and tapestries are used for propaganda purpose, and North Korea has a knack to craft a good quality ones. Therefore the country will start to sell its art form to the outside world.
Mansudae Art Studio is the studio appointed by North Korean regime to produce art foms since 1959. The art studio have been in business for years producing huge statues, murals and banners for domestic propaganda. It now employs 4,000 staffs working to make government publication.
Since 1980's the studio has launched Mansudae Overseas Projects (MOP) to export its art craft to fellow socialist countries, mainly in Africa. Recently, Mansudae studio also sent its artists to work on the giant statues in Angola, Benin, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia and Togo.
In Zimbabwe, the art studio has finished two giant statures of Robert Mugabe which is stored and waiting to be put in place when the Zimbabwe leader pass away. In Senegal, North Korean artists has created a giant African Renaissance Monument which was dedicated in 2010 in Dakar. For crafting statue in the West African capital, Mansudae studio was reported to earn $10 millions.
Representative of the studio Pier Luigi Cecioni told BBC about the North Korean art studio, "It's in the heart of Pyongyang, Mansudae is the name of the district." He also explained, "Actually, it's more of a campus than a factory, more of a studio, the biggest in the world."
North Korea has made a new national income with production of giant statue for propaganda purpose. The country fill in the vacant position because "The Russians and Chinese don't make that kind of stuff any more," said art critic William Feaver. "The appeal is in the statement of the obvious - and of course size is everything."
This has been a good news for North Korea that was in the midst of economic turmoil following its nuclear ambition. The country thirst for nuclear weapon has depleted the country's economic resources. South Korean president President Park Geun-hye as reported by Fox News on Thuesday has warned that North Korean nuclear ambition will face economic collapse.
In the televised address to National Assembly, president Park also vowed to take a strong measure against North Korea as quoted by Yonhap News Agency.
North Korea has seen a niche in the market to produce giant statue for countries that aim to to glorify their leaders. Its experience for more than 50 years in creating giant statues for propaganda purpose has become useful to support its economy. Especially after its nuclear ambition has exhausted the country's economy.
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