Kim JongiL.Ron HubbaRd

Christian Maurer
Kim Jong
A Bromance
IL.
Ron Hubbard
Christian Maurer
Kim Jong IL. Ron Hubbard
A Bromance
2010
I am extremely thankful to Dirk Steglich, Christian Lenke, Veronika Heller and Roman Lüttmerding for their support in the realization of this exhibit.
Berlin, 2010
1950
Kim Jong Il
L. Ron Hubbard
Seventeen-year-old Kim Jong Il and the twenty-five-year-old L.
Ron Hubbard meet during a visit in Venice where Kim Jong Il is
selling self made paintings to passers-by.
As a mediocre painter but clever trader, he gives “Potted
Flowers on a Balcony in Calle Sinistra” to passer-by, L. Ron
Hubbard, as a present.
Immediately the two sympathize with one another.
A week after the first meeting Kim Jong Il gets a message
that his aunt has died as a result of the Japanese occupation of
Korea.
3
Calle Sinistra della Santa
Croce (Venice 1958)
1950
L. Ron Hubbard continues traveling to Marseille.
Two weeks later Kim Jong Il and L. Ron Hubbard meet again
in Nice.
The vacation is vexed with bad karma; the Côte d’Azur is not
as Hemingway has described it.
All of Kim Jong Il’s belongings are stolen – possibly by Scandinavian backpackers*.
Political unrest in Spain spills over into France, which results
in the collapse of the public transportation system. Kim Jong Il
and L. Ron Hubbard make their way to Austria on foot.
Former motel (Nice 1950) –
now a gasstation
The Austrian small town Leoben 1951
In Austria they abandon their travels and return to their
respective homes. Hubbard lives with his uncle in Anaheim/Los
Angeles.
4
*After this North Korea expels Swedish and Norwegian diplomats. The politburo
expressly denies any correlation.
North Korea still cultivates
good relationships with Austria
1951-1958
Hubbard takes clarinet lessons and writes criminal stories for
tabloids. He moves around in shady environments.
In 1954 Hubbard gets shot in the hip in Compton/South Central
L.A. by someone in a passing car.
The bar Greg’s Crack and every day
life in Inglewood/South Central L A.
1958
In the night before 4/19/1958 Hubbard breaks down in an alley
close by Melrose Ave under the influence of large amounts of
alcohol mixed with inferior cocaine.
A bypassing wheel trader picks up the unconscious L. Ron
Hubbard and pays all medical bills to get him into a private
clinic. Hubbard suffers severe and – most of all – permanent
damage caused by this incident.
Salvatore Travolta, Bridgestone- and Goodyear Tire monopolist
in L.A. County, is a lay preacher in a Mennonite community.
He doesn’t care for thankfulness – “…it’s a natural due as
Christian“.
5
*According to the medical record it is about compulsive hoarding (messie syndrome)
and a so called post.traumatic loss of reality. In addition the attending physician diagnoses him with a rare congenital mental dysfunction.
„… never seen such kind of brain.“
Santa Monica Hospital
(Los Angeles 1958)
1951-1958
The still convalescent L. Ron Hubbard forswears all alcohol
and other drugs. He decides to give his life a new turn.
He organizes summer camps and sailing trips for disabled
children of socially disadvantaged parents. He also cares for
seniors in need.
However, Hubbard does not leave behind his talents. He
proves himself as a writer, captain, train driver, teacher, choirmaster, major, doctor, inventor, mathematician and altar
server. In each profession he achieves honorable qualifications
whereby social work has always been his main concern – and as
of today, will remain his main focus.
In order to keep donations without paying taxes he founds
the association You Are Not Alone (YANA). Its symbol consists
of 8 rules.
The following poem originates during that time period. It will
make noise in the world years later.
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true, we’ll make a better day, just you and me
…
6
*Set to music by Cick Corea it received a Grammy in 1985.
A Youngster on L. Ron Hubbard´s
schooner Sea-Org
(Long Beach 1963)
1951-1958
Meanwhile, Kim Jong Il gets in a fight with his grandmother.
Being stubborn he moves into a cabin in a mountain valley near
the Chinese border, where he lives for months door to door
with simple farmers.
Kim Jong Il´s father Kim Il Sung
(left), his grandfather (center) and
grandmother (right) 1914
Regardless, he keeps in touch with L. Ron Hubbard via
letters.
Short time later Kim Jong Il is bored of the uneventful life and
takes over the apartment of a cousin at the corner of Sungnistreet and Yongwang-street in the heart of the capitol.
Yongwang-street
1956
Il gets interested in horse racing. He too gets drawn into the
temptation of a dandy-like lifestyle, between turf and casino.
For a long time Kim Il Sung tolerates his son´s lifestyle.
However, he observes his son with growing attention and
worry.
7
The more than 10
miles long racetrack
in Pyongyang 1958
1951-1958
To the relief of his father, Kim Jong Il discovers his interest for
music. One can also see a change of heart in Jong Il. He gets drawn
into social realism of art and, as he says “The beautiful and useful”.
Sketches for the sculptural rearrangement of Pyongyang are
created. Later his main focus will be painting. He will receive
international – though not respect but at least – recognition.
In a letter L. Ron Hubbard notes the incident when he almost
died. He also mentioned that he knows a wealthy wheel trader
who is into him and who owns an enormeous art collection.
Kim Jong Il writes that art is for people, not for storage rooms.
However Kim Jong Il continues writing that one should throw this
pointless scrawled dirt at capitalistic market interest.
8
*Kim Jong Il (2002): Cultural Policy as Exclusive Agency – Meanders of Counter-Revolution in Socialistic-National Connection outside the Imperialistic Class-Collectivity
(page 134 ff.)
Sketches for Chuch’e Tower,
Kim Il Sung Monument, the EternalFriendship-Among-Peoples Gate and
the Arch of Victory in Pyongyang
1959-1961
Following Kim Jong Il’s invitation L. Ron Hubbard travels to
Pyongyang and comes to know and appreciate his father Kim
Il Sung. L. Ron Hubbard admires his straight forward ruthless
actions in building a modern society.
Kim Jong Il insists in showing his friend the picturesquely
beauty of his home
On trips through the Changbai-Mountains the two get closer
and sensual. Later, Hubbard will deny everything concerning
this time period (L. Ron Hubbard, Critique of Pedantic Reason,
Part 1, The Stupidity of Nature)
Their friendship undergoes a tough trial after a strong conflict of emotions.
L. Ron Hubbard, as he wrote later, realized for the first time
that „beyond banal emotions there has to be a cognitive way of
solution to any problem“.
9
Kim Il Sung, „Great Leader“
of North Korea 1960
Changbai-Mountains and it´s
highest peak Paektusan
1959-1961
For the first time their unlimited warm relationship to one
another is struggling, when Hubbard – during their conversation about the advantages of green tea – characterizes Confucius
an unrealistic fool.
In 1961 the North-Korean Won gets devalued in contrast to
the US Dollar. Kim Il Sung immediately stops the production of
all medals in the entire country. He also announces a raise in
working standards for garbage disposal, construction and agriculture.
Kim Il Sung contemplates sending Kissinger, the American
foreign minister, a virulent note. Nikita Chruschtshow travels to
Pyongyang immediately and advises him not to do so. There is
enough trouble in the world* already.
Accompanied by Kim Jong Il L. Ron Hubbard is traveling
back to the US. Supposedly he wants to put in good words with
influential friends of his uncle for the emerging industrialized
country.
10
*Cuban Missile Crisis, Caucasian Molukka-rebellion, the increasing insubordinatian of
mongolic franctireurs and affiliations at the inner-German border.
„Do as you would be done by ...“
Confucius
Nikita Chruschtschow on his
arrival in Pyongyang 1961
1962-1964
Kim Il Sung proved to be goodwilling and naiv. Not only does
L. Ron Hubbard´s uncle not have influential friends, he also
lives in a social institution for homeless people and draws from
Christian welfare.
Even though Kim Jong Il is hurt by his friend´s illusion of
his father but he is convinced by Hubbard´s „solely good will“.
L. Ron Hubbard´s Uncle
shortly before his death in
Anaheim near Los Angeles
1961
Both men take a multiple week trip to Malibu and visit
Hubbard´s uncle in Anaheim.
Kim Jong Il and L. Ron Hubbard fly to New York via Atlanta
and Miami. A couple of weeks later, they rent an apartment in
Hoboken, New Jersey.
Kim Il Sung refuses to keep paying both men’s living expenses.
Shortly after Kim Jong Il is sent to prison due to traveler´s
check fraud. The sentence is changed to two-month´s
probation with an electronic monitor because of insignificance.
11
Hoboken/New Jersey 1960
1962-1964
L. Ron Hubbard finds a job as scientific assistant at the New
Jersey Business School. Kim Jong Il has multiple jobs as rat
estinguisher, doorman and night security.
Again, L. Ron Hubbard proposes to arrange a meeting with
the art loving Salvatore Travolta. Finally Kim Jong Il agrees and
meets with Salvatore´s son John.
Savaltore Travolta buys some sketches, paintings and
drawings for a ridiculous price (Jong Il). He counts on the
growing PR of the president’s son. Kim Jong Il is able to pay back
some debts. However, he keeps working as cook and cleaner.
Salvatore Travolta at a vernissage in Philadelphia 1964
„Illy? Good boy,
guter Jung!“*
John Travolta now regularly visits their apartment, where he
and L. Ron Hubbard engage in long conversations.
More and more often L. Ron Hubbard and Kim Jong Il argue.
With regard to rent Jong Il always pays late. Finally he moves
out of the apartment. He is „fed up with permanent nagging“.
12
*A former colleague – now living in Osnabrück (Germany) – doesn´t allow anyone to
compromise Kim Jong Il.
„… absolutely convincing!“
John Travolta (New York City)
1964
1962-1964
Kim Jong Il begins studying Business Administration in
Geneva, because his father said to be embarrassed of his own
son.
Due to poor and partially unsatisfying grades Kim Jong Il soon
has to leave the elite college and is sent to Yale.
Kim Jong Il in school uniform
Geneva 1964
Kim Jong Il meets L. Ron Hubbard who is now holding a chair
there.
Both men engage in loud verbal exchanges in the cafeteria
and hallways on campus. However, the old friendship soon
revitalizes.
L. Ron Hubbard and Kim Jong Il go to New Haven Turtles baseball games and become regulars in the basement, a homosexual
bar at Jefferson Avenue, Downtown.*
„Dear Chris, dond worry about
Ronnie. Didnot notice anything!
… warmly, Jong Il“
13
*Later on some compromising documents came out which, at least, leave a certain
smell of reasonable doubt about Jong Il´s artlessness.
1965-1971
Hubbard is starting to develop a so called technology which
he is convinced will save the world. At the beginning Kim Jong
Il is very skeptical.
„…already one thousand years
ago. I only found it right now “
(L. Ron Hubbard)
Since 1958 Hubbard has been ill with the malady of compulsive hoarding. At a scrapyard he finds an undefined machine
and takes it home. For some reason he is sure that it will be
important in the future.
During a lecture, Hubbard throws around Walker´s Butter
Shortbread and calls Angela Davis a negro bitch. The frantic
L. Ron Hubbard attacks 4 nurses with a severed bottleneck. One
of them dies on the way to the hospital.
After various succsessless tests on
rats first auditings with the so called
e-meter started with students.
During Hubbard´s stay in the Boston Psychiatric Clinic
Hubbard was freed, without honors, from all his duties. Later,
he develops an almost paranoid disgust for psychologists and
psychiatrists.
14
*Today compulsive hoarding (messie syndrome) is generally accepted as a disease.
Nevertheless L. Ron Hubbard always emphasized: „Suffering? It´s your own fault!“
(L. Ron Hubbard, Disease = Excuse)
Angela Davis and Theodor W.
Adorno during a demonstration
in Frankfurt 1978
1965-1971
President Kennedy transfers Hubbard due to pressure from
Congress to an exterritorial prison on Norfolk Island in the
South Pacific.
1972-1979
L. Ron Hubbard
(Norfolk Island 1972)
Hubbard writes countless appeals for clemency. Finally
Kennedy grants them in 1975.
Kim Jong Il’s father dies on an afternoon in autumn of 1981
North Korean Chuch’e time. The cause of Death is said to be
a Fugu-meal. According to other sources he was too close to a
detonation of an atomic bomb.
nun-eul-wa hamkke!* 1976
After mourning Kim Jong Il decides to participate in running
for president in his home country and utilizes means which are
well known and engaged in the US.
He is elected with a respectable majority. However, immediately after the publication of the election results Kim Jong Il
announced that democracy is „unnecessary like a goiter“.
눈을와 함께
15
*“Grit your teeth and get to it!“
1972-79
Some of the first city constructions are realized in Pyongyang.
In doing so it came to some difficulties and misinterpretations
due to size. Corrections cannot be made later.
Eternal-FriendshipAmong-Peoples Gate
Kim Il SungMonument
Chuch’e Tower
Arch of Victory
Kim Jong Il gets L. Ron Hubbard as advisor to Pyongyang and
procures him a prominent job in the cultural ministry.
Relieved from any obligation L. Ron Hubbard deals with
research and writes multiple books, for instance Dianetics –
Guidance document for human understanding.
1980-1994
The president supports L. Ron Hubbard with all resources
and lets him do some trials in childhood education camps. For
the time being success is not in sight.
„Moreover, when
everything´s completed,
try it again tomorrow.“
(Dianetics, Chapter 3,
Headache and E-Learning)
Kim Jong Il is intensely asked by L. Ron Hubbard to finally
handle his romantic and self-destructive complexes.
16
*L. Ron Hubbard´s Technology more and more establishes a certain esoteric and
artificial kind of speech – to date linguists refuse to „waste their time“
E-Meter, North Korean batched flow
production. – microelectronics made in
GDR
1980-1994
The intensive research of the last decades kept L. Ron
Hubbard not only from other research projects but also from
his dream of having a child.
Kim Jong Il said to get rid of this idea. But Kim Jong Il compromises and launches a search for surrogate mothers with some
ads into the Bangkok Post. L. Ron Hubbard rejects North-Korean
women for genetic reasons.
1980 Hubbard’s son David is born. After work is done David’s
mother is not interned as planned but deported to Thailand.
L. Ron Hubbard´s workroom.
Kim Il Sung-Science Center in
Pyongyang 1980
„The question, if children necessarily
need childhood, arises with puberty“
(L. Ron Hubbard, Sleeping under Control)
David 1980
His godfather, Kim Jong Il, devotes his time to the promotion
of the promising child. Education and upbringing happens by
ideologically stable cultivation- and disciplinary-cadres.
Due to his father’s explicit wish, David Hubbard is given up
for adoption in the United States. He also takes his foster mom’s
name.
17
*This will pay off later. Today he is chairman of the YANA-Foundation. – At least
one of the few growing and, at the same time, profitably working relief organizations.
David 2010
1980-1994
1985 there is a shortage in food supplies in the agriculturally
poor and mountainous north. L. Ron Hubbard proposes giving
high dose vitamin supplements to the people. (L.Ron Hubbard,
Disease = Excuse)
Scrub plantation near Hyesan
Kim Jong Il prefers a more long term solution. On short notice
he establishes so called food camps.
Within a couple of months about 5 million people get killed
due to feeding with hay and grass. The cynical comment
„nobody died of hunger“ leaves the world aroused.
„Never wear black trousers and, above
all, never defend yourself – attack!“
(L. Ron Hubbard, Handling Freedom)
Kim Jong Il advertises the success of population reduction
(P.R.-Project) and starts implementing a seven-year-plan as working instrument. L. Ron Hubbard is impressed too.
The Collection Salvatore Travolta is made available in the Kim
Il Sung-Cultural Palace. Kim Jong Il´s works, purchased years
ago in New York, are not shown. Shortly after his election for
President they have been bought off at a high profit.
18
*According to L. Ron Hubbard´s research findings vitamin supplements are thoroughly
sufficient to eradicate malaria, small pox, AIDS, pestilence and any other plagues once
and for all.
Kim Il Sung-Cultural Center
(Pyongyang 1987)
1980-1994
1988 Hubbard receives an award (Category Guidebook/Education) at the Leipzig Book Fair for Sleeping under Control.
The world nobel price committee gets interested in L. Ron Hubbard. It intervenes at the American Department of Justice. The
early release in 1975 has to formally be turned into an acquittal.
A possible award could not be assigned otherwise.
Entrance to the former National Science
and Dirty Amusement Park (NSDAP) – now
Headquarter of the YANA-Foundation in
Clearwater/Florida
On the occasion of the opening of an amusement park in
Clearwater/Florida L. Ron Hubbard holds a meaningful and
noticed lecture. He points out that something has to be done,
there is not much time left. One has to leave the slow behind:
„The epileptics, the mentally ill, the diabetics etc. – let’s be
honest, who needs them?“*
In a live broadcasted speech on Radio Vaticana he notes:
“Whoever wants to follow me, follow me. If you turn around,
be sure, that you will turn into a salt column.” (L. Ron Hubbard,
Dianetical Multiplexes)
Pope John Paul II says that he deprecates such comments referring to the Old Testament.
After serious discussions with persons in
charge of Radio Vaticana Pope John Paul II
appears again satisfied and in good humour.
19
*L. Ron Hubbard, Logical Science, Chapter 1, About Cripple-Tax
1995-2000
L. Ron Hubbard describes the isolation politics of the „Great
Leader“ Kim Il Sung as economic aberration. He pressures the
president to correct this finally and immediately.
Kim Jong Il determines 1998 to choose a stress-relieved
political path called haedong. Due to a long time necessary
innovation of the state-owned furniture and automobile
production, industrial spying seems a feasible and legetimate
tool.
Kim Jong Il touring IKEA-production
halls (Ghotenburg 1998)
Body-Suit „Earthquake“ by
Yohji Yamamoto (often mocked
as a Bulgarian tracksuit)
Kim Jong Il buys a new wardrobe in Tokyo. He counts on
Giorgio Armani’s elegance and the understatement by Calvin
Klein. The rough chic of the glasses by Karl Lagerfeld and the
mudd colored body suit by Yohji Yamamoto show courage and
flamboyance, which are not seen in other Heads of State.
Kim Jong Il, equipped with the identity of a Chinese oligarch,
travels to the United Arabic Emirates and Europe. In Sweden he
announced his plans to invest in the battered IKEA-Group and
in Italy he is interested in even the minutest details of wellness
center equipment.
Kim Jong Il
among Carabinieri
visiting a spa area (Rome 1998)
20
1995-2000
Ultimately there are hostile takeovers of some Southern
German carpentries and meat processing plants. The international logistic company UPS is a tough negotiant, but finally gives
into a commercial partnership agreement.
„First of all
a company´s efficiency depends on the
design of its panel vans“
(L. Ron Hubbard, Faster, Higher, Further)
Ryugyong-Hotel in
Pyongyang 2001
According to the economics minister L. Ron Hubbard, a
couple of structural changes in the business plan are necessary.
For example, plans have to be made “million years in advance
and everything has to be planned originating from the earth’s
center.“
2001-2010
Kim Jong Il and the committee for body culture are busy
planning the Gay Games 2002. After a minor manipulation of
strategic plans the roof of the Ryugyong-Hotel in the Olympic
Village can be finished after a fifteen-year construction period.
The official banner for the games is pulled back due to L. Ron
Hubbard´s advice, however, a few propaganda details should
be left on it.
21
„ ... outdated.“
disposable propaganda display
2001-2010
There are unknown challenges facing the North Korean
organization office and the public transportation bureau. Within
a year about thousands of sport suits shall be made.
Opening event of the Gay Games 2001
Stadium First of May in Pyonyang
In fact no problem for the powerful textile industry, but one
is dependent on a couple loads of cotton. The Ministry for
Industry notes that fan belts and electricity generators may also
be useful.
The North Korean citizens are barely interested in the games,
however, all seats in the stadiums are crowded.
Sports competitions
Kim Il Sung-water dome
Kim Jong Il intervenes in the scoring at tower jumping,
disadvantaging the American athletes. He earns strong criticism
by the Olympic Committee.
After the revision of some results the games end and all is
forgiven. Its success is celebrated anthem-like by the states
press.
22
„Unacceptable“
2001-2010
Bookstore in
Musan 2002
2004 Kim Jong Il publishes L. Ron Hubbard´s early work in
Korean language. Book sales are slow. Exile Koreans think that
the price is too high.
In the meanwhile, L. Ron Hubbard, Minister for Education,
blames the misprints for the slow sale. He also complains that
the prologue by Kim Jong Il reads like a “speech manuscript by
Leonid Breschnew”.
Misprints and poor
processing
L. Ron Hubbard´s 52 most important works are translated into English. They are printed on glossy paper and are
published as colored comics.
At panel discussions L. Ron Hubbard consistently calls priests,
psychiatrists and civil rights advocats parasitic scum; he sticks
out by blanket denigration of democratic states in general. Also,
due to foul insults of the audience and political officers, the
executives have to intervene repeatedly.
23
„… leaves behind Harry
Potter and the bible“
2001-2010
He enjoys diplomatic immunity and therefore has the right to
withdraw access by governmental bodies. Sometimes, even his
pathological mental state is reducing debt.
L. Ron Hubbard´s apprehension in
Ravenna and his prison cell in Lusaka/
Zambia 2005
L. Ron Hubbard gets reported 27 times and stayed about 50
days in remand, for example in Germany (sedition), Great Britian
(lese Majeste) and Sambia (breach of the peace).
After his release in Lusaka/Sambia he discontinues his book
tour.
Tom Cruise in
„Schindler’s List“
In 2006 the American actor Tom Cruise receives the L. Ron
Hubbard Actor’s Award for the star role in „Schindler’s List“.
Cruise volunteers to make the YANA-Foundation publicly known with all his available means. He develops an almost
missionary eagerness.
24
* Till 2004 You Are Not Alone (YANA) restricted their activities to the US
„Popularity also means
responsibility.“
2010
Surprising for all foreign observers, L. Ron Hubbard and Kim
Jong Il debate on pulling back from all political offices. The
two assign trustworthy squads with research for an adequate
residence in non socialist foreign countries.
Due to tactical consideration all travel bans are loosened or
completely abolished.
„ ... heat, mosquitos, everglades“
– Fidel Castro´s property in the
„retirees-paradise“ Florida
L. Ron Hubbard and Kim Jong Il argue about adequate
residences. It´s time to take a step back is the only agreement.
Kim Jong Il knows the mountains in the north of
the Korean peninsula fairly well where he lived a major part of his youth, and has had enough of it. On the
other hand, L. Ron Hubbard, who got to know every
single camping ground between New Orleans and Miami, is sick
of swamp, mosquitoes and mangroves.
While Jong Il still prefers the tropical heat Hubbard remains
sure that the peaceful mountains would be the better solution.
Hubbard, persistent but marked by weakness and
dementia, leaves the summer of Pyongyang in a hurry. He moves
to Switzerland. Jong Il, also weakened by illness, travels to Florida.
25
Idyllic alpine villages –
always appreciated by
artist and intellectuals as
holiday destinations
Always
2010
On Christmas Eve 2010 L. Ron Hubbard dies mentally
deranged in Sils-Maria in Swiss Oberengadin.
Jong Il receives the message only hours later and is found
the day after unconscious in his neighbor´s foggy garage in
Key Biscayne. According to forensic medicine he committed
suicide.
L. Ron Hubbard finds his eternal
peace next to Salvatore Travolta´s
gravesite in Beverly Hills.
Kim Jong Il´s body is tranfered to
Pyongyang, embalmed and buried in
the Kim Il Sung mausoleum
Kim Il Sung mausoleum
in Pyongyang
26
Sunset Cemetery
in Beverly Hills
Kim Jong Il (* 1933 in Pyongyang; † 2010 in Key Biscayne, Florida)
L. Ron Hubbard (* 1925 in Tilden, Nebraska; † 2010 in Sils-Maria, Oberengadin)
Bibliography
L. Ron Hubbard
Handling Freedom, 1964
Dianetics – The Modern Science of Mental Health, 1968
Sleeping under Control, 1973
Disease = Excuse, 1974
Dianetic Multiplexes, 1979
Logical Science, 1983
Critique of Pedantic Reason, 1985
Faster, Higher, Further, 1999
Kim Jong Il
Cultural Policy as Exclusive Agency – Meanders of Counter-Revolution in Socialistic-National Connection
outside the Imperialistic Class-Collectivity, 2002