Pyongyang University of Fine Arts, the “pedigree” establishment for education in Juche-based fine arts, is widely known as the academic centre promoting the development of fine arts of the country and a prestigious group of artists.

In the past the university contributed greatly to the construction of monumental structures including the Chollima Statue, Monument to the Victorious Battle of Pochonbo, Grand Monument on Mansu Hill, Wangjaesan Grand Monument and Samjiyon Grand Monument representing the eras in the DPRK history, while producing tens of thousands of pieces of artworks of national treasure value, based on profound themes and ideas and done with unique painting techniques, such as Korean painting “Nostalgia” and oil painting “Mansu Hill in July”.

Its fine tradition has successfully been inherited in the new century of the Juche era.

The lecturers and students of the university have made distinctive contributions to the completion of major construction projects at the highest level over the past ten-odd years, including the Okryu Children’s Hospital, Songdowon International Children’s Camp, Central Zoo, Natural History Museum and baby homes and orphanages across the country.

In particular, small-size diorama “The battle on the shore of Lake Jangjin”, which was created by them and is now on display at the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum, was rated as a masterpiece to win the People’s Prize.

“These achievements are unthinkable apart from the effective teaching methods of the university and high abilities and creative enthusiasm of lecturers and students,” said Han Un Il, head of a department of the university.

The university puts primary efforts to increase the knowledge of students while steadily improving teaching contents, methods, conditions and environment.

New teaching methods, education support programs, multimedia presentations and electronic visual aids helpful to theoretical and practical education in such majors as Korean painting, pictorial art, graphic painting, industrial design, craftwork and sculpture have widely been introduced into teaching activities, proving effective in education.

Lecturers of the university are of the opinion that they themselves should become masters of creation to train students as creation-oriented talents.

Their successes and experience in creative activities help students burn with a zeal for study and improvement of their knowledge, producing talented artists one after another.

In recent years alone many students of the university have presented their artworks to several fine arts and sketch festivals held on the occasion of national holidays to be highly appreciated and flawlessly created artworks, interior design pieces, various kinds of miniatures and designs needed for the completion of major construction projects.

Pak Song Chol, student at the Faculty of Korean Painting of the university who created a fine artwork with his special sketch technique and took first place at the 10th national pencil drawing festival in February, expressed his determination to become renowned artists like seniors by contributing to the development of the country’s fine arts.

Many university graduates are fully demonstrating their creative ability in different fine arts production units, said Han Un Il.