Beginning

When I was a kid, I used to enjoy looking at a gorgeous painting that was hanging on the wall of our living room. At that time,I didn’t know what type of painting it was and only recently, I realized that it was the icon of ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Help’.

An icon (from Greek , eikon ) is an image, picture, or representation and came from the Orthodox Church and is mainly painted on wood. Icons are not well known in Korea and even when I was a kid, it was quite a unique opportunity to see it at home.
I tried to copy that painting without knowing about icon and it was always ended up my disappointmenet. But the image of the painting stayed in my mind for a long time.

After moving to Stockholm, I had opportunity to join an icon course in which my mento Alexander Deriv taught me the technique of icon.
My first icon "Our Lady and Jesus" brought to mind the icon of my childhood.

During the process of my first icon painting, it came into my mind that there are no icons about Korean saints. In fact, not so many European know that we have 103 saints in Korea, not to mention the history of Catholic in Korea.

Korean Catholic has unique history of self-growth. Small number of Korean, including 103 Korean saints, initiated Catholic in Korea without outside help. The 103 Korean saints were ordinary people just like me but they stand the gruesome persecution of the Confucianism-oriented dynasty and lived holy lives with a strong faith in God. Eventually they were all martyred for their faith.

The story of 103 Korean saints filled me with conpassion and admiration. I wish I could honor them by painting their icon.

Painting all 103 Korean saints' icon was very long and difficult project to me but I cherish this experience since it reminded me how much I love God and all the people whom I have met in Korea.

+ All Korean Saints, pray for us.

September 10. 2007 Stockholm
Ji-Young Kim