"Inside North Korea" by Mark Edward Harris

IN EXHIBITION — "Baton Diplomacy: Inside North Korea with the New York Philharmonic"

The Korea Society is pleased to present Baton Diplomacy: Inside North Korea with the New York Philharmonic, an exhibition of photographs by award-winning photographer Mark Edward Harris that document the concert by the New York Philharmonic orchestra in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on February 26, 2008.

The Korea Society Gallery

In his always fascinating and often stunning photographs, Harris offers a truthful and objective perspective on this unprecedented historic event. Encompassing both the concert itself and all the other major activities of the nearly 300-member delegation—consisting of the orchestra’s 106 artists, staff, accompanying patrons, VIP guests and press corps—the exhibition captures all aspects of the New York Philharmonic orchestra’s two-day visit to Pyongyang, the capital of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Most notably, the photographs afford an inside view of this previously unimaginable influx of Americans—the largest group to arrive since the days of the Korean War over half a century ago—into the reclusive country.

Gallery Entrance, Opening Night

Opening Reception

The exhibition will be supplemented by Harris’ book, Inside North Korea, published by Chronicle Books in 2007, which will feature photographs from his previous visits to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. These photographs document life in Pyongyang but also include scenes from along the northern border with China, the highly militarized DMZ and the tightly controlled economic and tourist zones. The book includes short essays, extended captions and a foreword by noted North Korea expert Bruce Cumings. It will be available for purchase at The Korea Society during the period of the exhibition.

The Exhibition at a Glance (selected images below).

Following its run at The Korea Society, Inside North Korea with the New York Philharmonic will be available for the travel to colleges, universities, galleries and non-profit institutions across America.

For inquiries about the exhibition in The Korea Society Gallery, contact Jinyoung Kim at (212) 759-7525, ext. 316 or jinyoung.ny@koreasociety.org. For inquiries about hosting the exhibition in your gallery, contact Heewon Kim at (212) 759-7525, ext. 355 or heewon.ny@koreasociety.org.

To buy the book, "Inside North Korea," visit: chroniclebooks.com

For more of Mark Edward Harris' work, visit: markedwardharris.com