The Mansudae Art Studio, a comprehensive producer of artworks in the DPRK, was established on November 17, Juche 48 (1959).

Sprawling over 120 000 square metres, it comprises more than 10 production units and several portrayal and manufacturing units specializing in the creation of monuments, pictures and handicrafts and other units for the preservation and dissemination of artworks.

The studio erected a large number of monumental structures, including the Chollima Statue, Grand Monument on Mansu Hill, Samjiyon Grand Monument, Monument to the Victorious Battle of the Musan Area, Tower of the Juche Idea, Arch of Triumph, Monument to the West Sea Barrage and Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mt Taesong, while renovating such buildings as the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum and the Moranbong Theatre into monumental edifices of the times.

It created artworks depicting the leaders at a high level and produced lots of landscapes and other pictures on various themes that embody great artistry and national sentiments, thereby making a tangible contribution to developing the nation’s pictorial art.

Murals in the Pyongyang Metro, Korean painting Evening Glow over Kangson, Korean posokhwa (jewel painting) Pigeon Dance, large-sized mother-of-pearl work Pyongyang at Night, large-sized embroidery Mt Chilbo Tinted with Red Maples, large-sized oil painting Rich Harvest and ceramic Vase Inlaid with Pine Tree and Crane Motifs are known as masterpieces as they reflected the requirements of the times and the aspirations of the people. The Monument to the Victorious Battle of Pochonbo, sculpture Bugler of Advance at the Samjiyon Grand Monument and Korean paintings Waves of Sea Kumgang and Mt Chilbo in Autumn won the People’s Prize. Many other works created by the studio are highly appreciated at national festivals of calligraphy and pencil drawing and national exhibitions of landscape and handicraft and fine art.

The studio has so far produced tens of thousands of monuments and famous pictures.

In the course of this, it invented and introduced the method of assembling the torch on the Tower of the Juche Idea, the techniques of depicting objects by means of natural stones and glass dust and the method of preventing water from dripping from granite group sculptures at grand monuments.

It also sponsored various forms of art shows in different countries and regions, including China, Russia, Japan, Poland and the UK.

In recent years alone, many of its works were awarded top prizes and gold and silver prizes at different international ceramics and art expos.

The studio has also built more than 210 pieces of monumental structures in different countries in Asia, Africa and Europe, including palaces, statues, monuments, memorial halls, museums, heroes cemeteries and fountain-decorating sculptures.

It has produced many master artists such as twice Labour Heroes, Labour Heroes, People’s Artists and Merited Designers and winners of academic degrees and titles as well.

Today, the studio plays a big role in further enriching the treasure house of the Juche-oriented fine arts.