Sr Wendy Beckett and Fr Kim En Joong were friends from the 1990’s when Fr Kim discovered a book by her in a bookshop in Seoul, South Korea. Fr Kim read the book and decided to write to her and sent her a copy of one of his books with his artwork. So began a friendship with letters back and forth over many years. In this book Fr Kim has selected various short quotations from a number of Sr Wendy’s books. Each piece of his art work is in homage to various artists both he or she admired.
Sr Wendy Beckett, an art historian, was a frequent presenter on the BBC and had numerous books published in art history, as well as on prayer and books of letters written to various people. She became a nun at the age of 16, graduated from Oxford University and taught in South African schools for many years. In 1970 she returned to the UK and lived as a hermit within the grounds of a Carmelite Monastery in Norfolk. She died at the age of 88 in December 2018.
Fr Kim En Joong OP, is a Korean born Catholic priest. A member of the Swiss Province of the Order of Preachers (The Domincans) he has lived and worked as an abstract artist in Paris since the 1970’s. His art works can be found in churches all over Europe and he has had his work in galleries and exhibitions in many countries including Japan, Korea, France, the USA, the Vatican, Australia, Spain, Luxembourg and Belgium. His artistic works include stained glass windows, paintings and ceramics.
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