Mission life: THE KUKMIN DAILY

Jesus Comes This Spring in Suffering, Healing, Love: Christian Artists' Exhibition “Kol Rega”

2015-03-05 17:39

A picture makes time stop. As Jesus bleeds on the Cross. As we see God clearly “for the first time.” The moment a flower blooms amidst pain. As a wound gradually heals. The day we dance immersed in joy. Gallery Art Center PPlus is holding the invitational exhibition “Kol Rega,” with works by five Christian artists, through March 13. “Kol Rega” is a Hebrew term meaning “all moments.” We can see our lives newly in the light of Jesus’ suffering.

Lee Gyeong-rim’s “He Was Pierced” (photo ①) is an image of a woman embracing Jesus’ body as he hangs on the Cross. The words of Isaiah 53:5 are written on the work. Artist Lee said, “I expressed in my life, in my simple painting, the words of Jesus, the transcendent Being.”



After the time of suffering, a “flower” blooms. Artist Jang Seong-weon’s “Dahlia” (②) is painted on a piece of pine wood about 2.5 cm thick. Jang said, “Just as a flower blossoming in the midst of pain sends us its beauty and its keen fragrance, I hope our lives will blossom fully as beautiful flowers.” Artist Jang says that because he is the only Christian believer in his family, he has had difficulties in his faith life.



Artist Wu Byeong-chul says, “My most painful memory is of the time when I could not find God, no matter how I searched or called.” When he emerged from this tunnel of suffering and began a new work, he titled it “Seeing” (③). It is the scene of Mt. Namsan as it looks from the vicinity of the south end of Seoul’s Banpo Bridge. Duranno Auditorium’s signboard “Light and Salt” is visible in the picture.



Gwon Jin-u’s “Healing” (④) is the figure of a person whose body is bandaged all over, straddling a chair with right hand raised. On that hand sits a red butterfly. “When I was 12, I doubted the existence of God,” Gwon says. “Only after ten or more years had passed did I awaken to understand: I must believe, in order to see; and see, in order to love. It was like a long ‘channel of growth in faith.’ As I wrapped the doll in bandages, I was undergoing healing of that scar.” He said the doll was himself. Born in Andong and now in his twenties, rising artist Gweon is involved in creative work following the conclusion of studies in his hometown.



Jeong Hyerena’s “Joyful” (⑤) seems to express the joy of meeting God. Jeong said at one time, “How thrilling it must be to meet God in one’s lifetime and throw off one’s old self. When we take off what is called ‘self’ and meet the other, I think peace will come to the world.” Artist Jeong is also the wife of Rev. Park Sun-ung, pastor of Dongmyeon Church in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do.

You can meet the 40-plus works of these five artists in the 1st and 2nd exhibition halls at Art Center PPlus, located on Dosandaero in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Admission is free (02-549-0311).

Reporter Kang Ju-hwa (rula@kmib.co.kr), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)


Click here for the original article in Korean

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