House of Illustration is offering a rare glimpse of North Korean design with new exhibition

The UK's first ever exhibition of North Korean design will open at House of Illustration this week.

Made In North Korea: Everyday Graphics from the DPRK will display hundreds of domestic objects from the secretive nation, giving an unprecedented insight into everyday life there.

The collection – which includes items such as ticket stubs, food packaging and hand-painted posters dating between the 1970s and the 2000s – has been amassed by British tour guide Nicholas Bonner.

Bonner, who recently released a book on North Korean graphic culture with Phaidon, has been leading excursions around North Korea with his company Koryo Tours for over 25 years.

“This collection represents common objects given beautiful status by the hand-drawn graphics from North Korea’s most creative designers,” Bonner said.

“Some of the work is elaborate but the basic designs too should not be overlooked – minimalistic simplicity creating beautifully rhythmic artwork.”

The exhibition demonstrates a graphic style unique to North Korea, one that has been curated over decades by state-trained and approved artists, and with minimal influence from the outside world.

Made in North Korea: Everyday Graphics from the DPRK is at House of Illustration from February 23 - May 13 2018; houseofillustration.org.uk