Arirang Mass Games
5 articles
The Arirang Mass Games is a festival of artistic and gymnastics performances held annually by the North Korean people at the Rungrado May Day Stadium in Pyongyang. Also referred to as the Arirang Festival, the games are scheduled for either August or September.
The first-ever Arirang Mass Games festival took place in 2002; the annual calendar was followed religiously until 2013 without counting 2006. After taking a break of five years, the festival returned in 2018 with a performance dubbed ‘The Glorious Country’.
According to media publications of the mass games, Arirang is a Korean folk story known to the locals that narrates how a young couple was separated from one another – much like the division story of the South and North.
Noh Suntag has made it his mission to provide the world glimpses of social, historical and political developments of North Korea, which many people do not get to see. Noh produces photographs that record real-life situations that are directly linked to the division of Korea. In particular, some of his works were created to show […]
Noh Suntag in North Korea – This spectacle involves 100,000 participants Read More
Philippe Chancel’s photographs from North Korea are simply remarkable. Chancel joins the ranks of the few photographers in the world that have actually managed to document the impenetrable nation of North Korea. For more than half a century, this enigma of a country has been the personification of a rogue state; North Korea is an
Philippe Chancel & Eerie North Korea – A look behind the curtain Read More
Every year, North Korea holds a lavish and extravagant celebration for its ruler known as the Arirang celebrations, held at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang. The Arirang celebrations can be classified in the same category as the Olympic celebrations. The audience is always treated to a highly choreographed show, the likes of which have
Phillipe Chancel in North Korea – Photos of the Arirang Mass Games Read More
Renowned for his large-format color photographs charting themes of globalized society at work and play, Andreas Gursky’s production employs the digital technology to capture and refine an astounding compilation of detail on an epic scale. The perspective in many of Gursky’s photographs is drawn from an elevated vantage point. This position enables the viewer to
Andreas Gursky’s sensational photos of North Korea’s mass games Read More
North Korea had remained largely off-limits to foreigners for 60 years. When finally, Associated Press wanted to open a bureau in North Korea, it sent its chief photographer, David Guttenfelder, on several trips there. It was an enigma for everyone. The country that had been closed off for such a long time had people curious
David Guttenfelder’s remarkable photos of real life in North Korea Read More
