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 The
wall area around the entrance measuring
18m horizontally and 8m vertically (currently
called the Light of Life) was originally
going to be decorated with a mural painted
by Mr. Won Sook Kim, a Korean
American artist. On my trip to Beijing,
however, I met this eminent ceramic artist, Rak
Kyung Joo on my trip to Beijing who offered
to work on the wall surrounding the
entrance when I told him about the construction
of the building and the assembly
hall. He is not only one
of
the most prominent pottery artists but
his works are also among the
most expensive ceramic pieces. I told him
that his work was too expensive for us
to afford. He asked, Surely you can
afford to pay for the clay? and I
answered, Yes, we can afford the clay,
and asked, but why are you so intent on
building this wall?
The
potter explained that he was supposed to
decorate the wall in Beijing Airport but
it didn't work out and he wanted to work
on the assembly hall to recover his reputation.
When I told him we simply didn't have
the money, he sponded, I never asked you
for money. All I'm asking is to give me
the opportunity to do the work. I could
sense his earnestness and commissioned the
task of decorating the wall in the assembly
hall.
 When
Mr. Joo visited Korea to start working on
the wall, Professor Chun who was amazed
by the ceramic artist's work and suggested
that he also decorate the pillars between
the diffusers. That is how we decided to
furnish the pillars standing between
the diffusers with elaborate ceramics. Meanwhile,
Mr. Joo looked into the color and shape
of the sound diffusers that were to be installed
so that he could design the pillars that
blended with the surroundings. While discussing
the ceramic works for the pillars in between
the sound diffusers, Mr. Joo proposed that
he himself make the diffusers. Professor
Chun was more than impressed when he saw
the sample ceramic diffuser that Mr. Joo
created and that is how we came to making
ceramic sound diffusers. A ceramic palace
was coming into life. This incredible building
came into being through the joining of three
very talented people.
Mr.
Joo's artistic performance is based on traditional
Chinese pottery. He makes modern ceramic
pieces using clay, firing methods and
lacquer that have traditionally been used
in Chinese ceramics. His work is a combination
of traditional Chinese ceramics and
modern contemporary art.
Today,
western architecture dominates buildings
around the world. That is why there is very
little difference between buildings in
the East and the West.Oil paintings
and sculptures have long been combined with
architectural materials for buildings in
western countries In contrast, there are
no modern buildings in the East that incorporate
oriental fine art such as ink paintings
and ceramics. Gaudi applied tiles
to the architecture in Barcelona and
the opera house in Sydney also uses ceramic
tiles. However, ceramics in itself
has never been used in architecture to date.
 A
talented sculptor and renowned architect
have changed all that. Mr Joo and Yoo have
designed this beautiful place by combining cement
and steel structures
with fine art. With the addition of
elaborate sound effects, the hall will be
filled with splendid sounds as well
as visual beauty. The hall will manifest
the essence of art and beauty.
The
joint efforts of the three dedicated men
have opened new dimensions of architecture
and acoustics. The performances that
will be held in this hall
will also encourage renewed
interest in classical music. In addition,
performance by highly gifted performers
will help close the distance that isolates
the physically disabled. To this end,
the Miral Concert will be held on a regular
basis.
Meeting
people changes our lives. Meeting new people
can bring infinite possibilities and open
new horizons in one's life. This amazing
building could not have come into
being with man's effort alone. The coincidental
meeting of three talented people made
all this possible. We hope the place will
foster further meetings such as the one
that led to its creation and keep glorifying
God's name by serving all people as long
as it exists.
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