Father Kim En-joong joins the Catholic Academy of France

Father Kim En-joong joins the Catholic Academy of France. October. 12, 2016 08:54. by 파리=동정민특파원 ditto@donga.com. Father Kim En-joong (76), a Dominican, who is known as an “artist of light,” has become the first Korean member of the Catholic Academy of France on Monday.

The joining ceremony of Father Kim, held at a main hall of the college of Bernardins located in the 5th district of Paris, was live streamed by a French Catholic TV channel KTO. The Catholic Academy of France seeks members among intellectuals in the Catholic community in France who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of science, literature, art and law. Currently, 130 individual members have been selected.

After studying art at Seoul National University, he moved to Switzerland and entered the Dominican order. He is famous for his unique stained glass works featuring ensemble of abstract and oriental styles. His stained glass windows are displayed at around 20 churches across Europe including France, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany. An exhibition of his contemporary stained glass windows is also scheduled in the Czech Republic and the U.S. In addition, a permanent exhibition hall for Kim’s art piece will soon open at the Koekelberg Basilica in Brussels in Belgium, and an old court building in Anvers, France is being renovated to an art museum of Kim’s work.

“I will try to portray an image in the context of globalization, which means that everyone can understand it regardless of language, and my work can possibly help heal inner soul and bring peace,” Kim said in an interview. “As the Bible says ‘the righteous falls seven times and rises again,' I will always cultivate myself not to be tempted by money or power, and I will continue to keep my eye on the French Catholic community.”