North Korean artists refused Australian visas
December 09 2009 by Liam Clifford
Australian immigration officials have rejected Australian visa applications from five artists from North Korea.
Although the decision has been labelled
‘censorship’ by some, the government and Australian immigration claim the art produced by the five North
Koreans is part of the country’s propaganda machine.
Some countries claim
that allowing the artists to show their work in Australia would be a kind of
‘soft diplomacy’ which is also an opportunity to help people in the closed-off
country.
North Korea is run under the strict dictatorship of Kim Jong-il
and the population is prevented from using the internet, TV or radios and is
rarely able to travel. In response to this, the UN has had a long running ban on
visas for people from North Korea a part of its sanctions against the
regime.
However, the five artists were invited to join the Asia Pacific
Triennial of Contemporary Art in Queensland. Their Australian visa applications were
rejected as the Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith did not agree that the
artists should be an exception to the Australian visa ban rule.
The artists are
members of the Mansudae Art Studio. Smith explained, “the studio reportedly
produces almost all of the official artworks in North Korea, including works
that clearly constitute propaganda aimed at glorifying and supporting the North
Korean regime.”
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