Patriotic Smoking (2016)
Patriotic Smoking is a collection of Cigarettes from North Korea. They were purchased on the black market at the border town of Dandong in China.
Whilst it is believed that smoking is common among North Korean men of all social classes, there have been recent reports that Kim Jong Un ordered his officials not to smoke foreign produced tobacco and to show one’s patriotic loyalty by using locally produced tobaccos only.
There are 14 factories producing cigarettes in North Korea producing dozens of different brands. However, these are still beyond the reach of most people in the country who smoke roll up tobacco using the local newspaper.
The images in this project, shot in a simple product advertisement style, are not intended to make a sweeping statement about life in North Korean nor are they a commentary about smoking. Instead, they give the viewers a small glimpse into the advertising, branding and design style of a secretive country.