Kim Song-gun

Kim Song-gun (born 1945) is a North Korean painter. He works at the Mansudae Art Studio in Pyongyang.

Life
Kim was born in 1945. He initially worked as a blacksmith for 3 years. After his military service, he started working for the Mansudae in 1971, and studied at Pyongyang University of Fine Arts from 1972 to 1975.

Work
Kim Song-gun is also called "Painter of the Waves" since he mostly paints sea and river sceneries with thunderous waters. Despite a very realistic depiction the paintings carry a subtle kind of modern abstraction achieved through the dramatic presentation of the waves. One of those paintings, Waves of the Sea Kumgang, was noticed internationally due to a photo from Bill Clinton's state visit to North Korea in 2009 showing him sitting next to Kim Jong-il with the large green waves painting in the background.

Awards

 * 1999: People's Prize for Waves of the Sea Kumgang