Asia Center Seminars
Co-sponsored by the Harvard University Center for African Studies and Korea Institute
CHE Onejoon
Visual Artist, Filmmaker, and Member of Collective AfroAsia
Chaired by Chan Yong Bu, Assistant Professor, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University
Abstract:
Since the Cold War, North Korea has strategically used architecture as a tool of diplomacy, ideological influence, and international alliances. Through its state-run art and construction institution, the Mansudae Art Studio, North Korea has built statues, monuments, and buildings across Africa, leaving a tangible legacy that intertwines politics, culture, and ideology. In his documentary Black Monument (2017), filmmaker and artist Che Onejoon takes us into the historical and political contexts of these structures, revealing the ways they reflect and shape North Korea–Africa relations. The film uncovers how these architectural projects were entangled with diplomacy, military cooperation, and cultural exchanges, thus contributing to broader Afro-Asian networks. Another film, My Utopia (2018), examines North Korea’s transnational ties through the personal story of an Equatorial Guinean woman who grew up in North Korea. Using a documentary theater format, the film reconstructs her experiences, shedding light on the human dimensions of North Korea’s international relationships. By focusing on her journey, My Utopia explores how North Korea’s ideological and diplomatic engagements shaped individual lives, offering an intimate perspective on the intersection of politics, culture, and personal memory.
Following the screening, Che Onejoon will join us with Professor Chan Yong Bu for a discussion to delve deeper into how this underexplored chapter of global history continues to inform our understanding of North Korea’s interactions abroad.
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