Exhibit Reveals Creation of Korea’s First Priest Statue Installed in St. Peter’s Basilica
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
An exhibition in Seoul will showcase the full creation process of the statue of Father Kim Dae-geon (Kim Taegŏn Andreas, 1821–1846), the first Korean priest whose full-figure statue was installed in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. The 3.7 m tall marble statue, wearing traditional Korean dress (hanbok) and a gat (traditional hat), was carved over about two years in Pietrasanta, Italy, using marble quarried from Carrara. The display (Nov 20–27 at Gallery Bogorae, Gangnam) includes video footage of the eight-month carving process and the five-month search for suitable Carrara marble. The statue’s installation in St. Peter’s — the first representation of an East Asian saint and the first non-founder saint displayed on the basilica’s exterior — drew international attention; it was compared in appearance to popular figures from a Netflix animated show and nicknamed the “Vatican Lion Boys.” The show also features works by other winners of the 29th Catholic Art Awards, including young artists Jeong Ja-young and Im Ja-yeon.
