K I M

by Alexander Chase Arber

At first glance, K I M is reminiscent of a political satirical poster—one that would be plastered onto the wall by a disenfranchised citizen. I chose to screenprint this image of Kim Jong-Un conducting a humorous “loser dance” to critique North Korea’s conduct when it has been faced with international backlash. The colors that I incorporated (primrose yellow, orange, blue, and magenta) are not typically found in North Korean attire, and I wanted their vibrancy and lightheartedness to satirize Kim Jong-Un’s outward appearance of stoicism and power. I also wanted the bright colors to emphasize the Supreme Leader’s clothing and personal features.

I reference the sanctions, specifically, that were enacted following North Korea’s nuclear testing program. To me, fashion is a medium that can manipulate others’ perceptions of our outward appearances; North Korean propaganda has served a similar function. By printing the congressional act that implemented the sanctions onto the Supreme Leader’s clothing, I am attempting to expose the fraudulence of North Korea’s purported international compliance. Regardless of North Korea’s alleged improvements (its “clothes”), I am asking viewers to remain aware of the country’s true status. I chose to print the sanctions onto alternating editions to point out North Korea’s consistency of action regardless of the international backlash and sanctions with which it is faced; with or without the sanctions, Kim Jong-un continues to dance.

In addition to the broader implications of K I M, it also holds personal relevance for me because my maternal ancestors are South Korean. While most of my family has since left the Korean peninsula, one of my family members has remained. Almost six decades ago, my grandfather’s sister was visiting a friend in North Korea when the Demilitarized Zone was suddenly restricted. Stranded with only the clothes she was wearing, my great-aunt has been unable to contact the outside world since. Because of this, the emphasis on Kim Jong-un’s clothes serves a dual purpose. I chose to align my editions in a vertical line to recreate the imposing physical height of the Korean Demilitarized Zone and to recreate a sliver of the emotions that she might have felt when standing before it.