On March 10, 2017, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Paektusan Institute of Architecture that had been renovated as befitting a unit responsible for designing the future of socialist civilization.
He said that he came there after being told that the buildings of the institute were renovated and the equipment sent by the Workers’ Party of Korea installed there.
After looking round several places of the modern institute, he said: The officials, designers, architects and researchers of the institute should firmly arm themselves with Chairman Kim Jong Il’s Juche-oriented idea of architectural aesthetics and the Party’s construction policy, thus preparing themselves to be competent personnel capable of faithfully implementing our Party’s construction plan. This is the way to add eternal lustre to the Chairman’s and our Party’s imperishable leadership exploits. The designers should hold up the slogan “Let all the designers become patriotic artists!” When drawing even a single dot or line on their designs, they should think of how to depict socialist civilization in the era of the Workers’ Party and the people’s ideals and dreams.
Listening to what he had to say, the officials were reminded of what had happened during his visit in July the previous year.
In the corridor on the third floor he had seen a board showing the designers’ creative skills. He had gone over their studies displayed on the board, before commenting:
The studies are excellent. They are really lifelike. Architecture is a composite art and fine art is the major means of designing. Architects can be called gardeners and artists who map out the bright future of our socialist country.
He had resumed:
Fine art is the basis of architectural design. If the level of an architect’s talent in fine art is low, he will be unable to put his plan, no matter how innovative and good, into a blueprint, and the plan will remain only a fancy. On the other hand, however good his talent may be, he will not produce a design as wished and favoured by the people, if he is not fully determined to devote himself for the prosperity of his country.
Patriotic artists—this phrase highlighted the mission architects assumed for their country and fellow people.
Today, this has become the motto of the officials and designers at the institute and other specialists in the sector of architectural design. They are pooling their wisdom and enthusiasm to set up the best possible architectural structures in the country.
Fine art is the basis of architectural design. If the level of an architect’s talent in fine art is low, he will be unable to put his plan, no matter how innovative and good, into a blueprint, and the plan will remain only a fancy. On the other hand, however good his talent may be, he will not produce a design as wished and favoured by the people, if he is not fully determined to devote himself for the prosperity of his country.