L. Lee

Beer & Strawberries

Despite the fact that my nose has been alternating between snotty and stuffed and what I really needed was medicine,  I could not refuse this afternoon snack.

Because I just love Cass? Because these strawberries were that divine? Because I need more calorie intake right before I go on a beach vacation?

noo, noooo, and noooooooo.

I ate the strawberries and drank the beer (at 1:30 PM!! before I had a meeting with a professor!) because it was offered by an extremely sweet artist who invited me to his art studio this afternoon.  I first read about Song Byeok in an AP article that highlighted his new exhibition in Seoul, then it turned out that one of my friends interviewed him for the Los Angeles Times. Then another friend set up a lunch with him and invited me, and that’s how I came to know this rad dude who goes by Song Byeok (obvs a nom du plume). 

It’s a small studio by any standard, but he’s made it his own and once you forget that the building’s a little ghetto and that there’s not quite walls, it’s very cozy.  Especially since you’re surrounded by paintings and brushes and books and photos and a few sculptures. 

Song Byeok was a propaganda artist in North Korea, and his last exhibition was one giant satire of the Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il regimes.  He received tons and tons of foreign and domestic press, apparently to everyone’s surprise, including his, and was able to sell a few of his pieces.  Thank goodness, because up till last year he worked construction jobs to buy art materials.  Did I mention that he has a master’s degree from Hongik University? 

What I’m trying to work on now is gently suggesting that he build a website ASAP.  He says he doesn’t how to start (and probably doesn’t know how much it costs), but I’m scrounging up interest from friends who might be interested in giving their creativity or money. 

I don’t have a picture of his most scandalous work, which features Marilyn Monroe’s body and Kim Jong Il’s head, but you need to see it.  Here you go.   I asked him if he was going to continue focusing on North Korean issues with his next batch of paintings, and he said no.  It’s time to move on.  Afghanistan, maybe.  (he’s serious.)

*I wish I could tell you the interesting and amazing stories of many other North Koreans here.  The only reason I felt this post was appropriate was because of all the widespread publicity Song Byeok got from his last exhibition.  And because he’s pretty great and loves beer.