THE KUKMIN DAILY

There is a minister who communicates about God’s providence and the Gospel through photographs of tree bark bearing unusual patterns.

Park Hang-ung (74, pastor emeritus of Saengmyeong Saem [Well of Life] Church, photo) is in his fourth year of spreading the Gospel through exhibitions of his tree bark photos at churches, religious cultural halls and galleries in Busan and the Gyeongsangnam-do region.

After 40 years of ministry with the Korea Evangelical Holiness Church in the Busan-Gyeongnam region, Rev. Park kept himself healthy by climbing mountains and walking. As he looked carefully at the various patterns in the bark of trees, he was awakened to the depths of God’s providence.

Using camera and cell phone, he filled his photos with diverse tree-bark patterns. As the subject matter of his works, he chose the sycamores, zelkovas and other trees he saw as he made the rounds of Busan city parks and the nearby Geumjeong and Yongdu Mountains. “In the bark of the trees, I rediscovered the meaning of Creation and was filled with a sense of awe toward God,” Rev. Park said.

His more than 100 tree-bark photo works include “Cross,” “Return of the Prodigal Son,” “Esther,” “Father’s Prayer,” “Mother’s Dawn Prayer,” “Resurrected Lord,” “Mary Magdalene,” “Blood of the Cross,” and “The Cross Walks With Us.” Linked with his mission and cultural activities, Rev. Park plans to hold free exhibitions upon request, as a way to continue spreading the Gospel.

Article and photo by reporter Yun Bong-hak, from Busan, with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)


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