Ha Sam-du Stephan
Wochenblatt (26.3.26, DE)
About
KunstRaumRhein is exclusively presenting the first European solo exhibition by Korean artist Ha Sam-du. The artist is also a representative of the Korean ink painting movement and is associated with the Benedictine monastery Waegwan in South Korea. >> More about Benedictine monasteries in South Korea (german only)
Ha Sam-du Stephan, born in South Korea in 1958, completed his art studies at Hongik University near Seoul. In the 1980s, he was part of the Korean ink painting movement and had numerous solo exhibitions. As a church artist and architect, he designed and created liturgical spaces. He was a visiting professor at Busan University and Daegu Catholic University. In Korea, he regularly publishes in Catholic media. He has supported the foreign mission of the Benedictine monastery Waegwan with charity exhibitions on several occasions. Many of his works are on permanent display at Waegwan Monastery.
CHOICE (exhibition hall)
Metzerlenstr. 1
4115 Mariastein
+41 (0)61 683 08 70
Opening hours
Saturday 16.00 – 19.00
Sunday 11.00 – 16.00
or by appointment
Contact Curator
+41 (0)79 904 90 69
ddeimann@kunstraumrhein.ch
www.kunstraumrhein.ch
Dialogue: ‘On the providence of the Creator between skyscrapers and Korean gardens’
The artist was accompanied at the opening by the abbot of Waegwan Monastery, Blasio Park, one of the world’s largest Benedictine monasteries. We used this opportunity for cultural dialogue. The Korean experience of the tension between spiritual tradition and technical modernity was of particular interest. In addition to Abbot Ludwig Ziegerer from Mariastein Monastery, philosopher Dr. Hoo Nam Seelmann has also been invited. She writes columns for the NZZ and is also known in Korea for her book about the Korean Buddhist nun and temple cook Jeongkwan Snim.
Abbot Blasio Park (Waegwan Abbey, Korea)
Abbot Blasio Park Hyun-Dong OSB (Korean (Hangul/Han) 블라시오 박현동; born February 3, 1970 in Ulleungdo, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea) graduated from Kyungpook National University in 1992 and entered Waegwan Abbey. He took his simple vows in 1997 and his perpetual vows in 2001. After graduating from Daegu Catholic University, he was ordained a priest in 2001. From 2006 to 2011, he studied ecclesiology at the Pontifical Lateran University. He then became novice master at his home abbey. In 2013, he was elected fifth abbot of Waegwan Abbey and appointed by Pope Francis as Apostolic Administrator of Tokwon Territorial Abbey in North Korea. As such, he is a member of the Korean Bishops‘ Conference.
Abbot Ludwig Ziegerer (Mariastein Abbey, Switzerland)
Abbot Ludwig Ziegerer, born in Maienfeld, Graubünden, Switzerland, in 1956, completed teacher training in Chur and worked as a teacher in Graubünden for eight years. In 1985, he entered the Benedictine monastery of Mariastein. He completed his theology studies in Chur and Jerusalem with a licentiate degree. In 1992, he was ordained a priest. Since then, he has taken on various tasks within the monastic community, including prior (deputy abbot), novice master, and pilgrimage director. Outside the monastery, he has worked as a religious education teacher, pastoral counselor, and in various church and diocesan committees. Inspired by the ideas of Viktor E. Frankl, he completed training in logotherapy in 2013. In 2025, he was elected abbot of Mariastein Monastery.
Dr. Hoo Nam Seelmann (Philosopher, Journalist)
Dr. Hoo Nam Seelmann was born in Korea, studied philosophy, German language and literature, and art history at Saarland University, and earned her doctorate in philosophy. She moved to Switzerland in 1995. She contributed to the philosophical edition on Hegel (3 volumes). Since 1997, she has been working as a freelance journalist for the NZZ, focusing on Korea and East Asia. She has published and given numerous essays and lectures on Korean culture and translated Korean literature into German.
Publication:
- «Lautloses Weinen. Der Untergang des koreanischen Königshauses» (Königshausen und Neumann, 2011)
- «Ist hier Europa?» Magazin «Reportagen» (2011)
- «Atmende Leere – Das Ma-um im Fluss» im Sammelband «Ortslose Mitte. Das Ich in der koreanischen Kultur» (Wallstein Verlag, 2013).
- «Jeongkwan Snim. Ihre koreanische Tempelküche» (Echtzeitverlag, 2024).
- u.a.
CHOICE (exhibition hall)
Metzerlenstr. 1
4115 Mariastein
+41 (0)61 683 08 70
Opening hours
Saturday 16.00 – 19.00
Sunday 11.00 – 16.00
or by appointment
Contact Curator
+41 (0)79 904 90 69
ddeimann@kunstraumrhein.ch
www.kunstraumrhein.ch
Directions
CHOICE showroom in Mariastein
KunstRaumRhein CHOICE
Metzerlenstr. 1
CH-4115 Mariastein
By car
From all directions via the A3 motorway: Take the Delémont junction. Exit at Aesch. Mariastein is signposted from Aesch. From Basel-Stadt (not via the motorway): Head towards the zoo – Binningen – Bottmingen – Oberwil. Mariastein is signposted from Oberwil.
The exhibition space is located opposite the Mariastein pilgrim car park.
By public transport
a) Arrival at Swiss SBB railway station in Basel: Take tram line 10 from Bahnhofplatz to Flüh (journey time approx. 35 min.). Only use trains marked Flüh or Rodersdorf.
b) Arrival at the Badischer Bahnhof (DB) train station in Basel: From Bahnhofplatz, take tram no. 6 to the Theater or Heuwaage stop. There, change to tram no. 10, as indicated above.
From Flüh, take post bus line 69 to Metzerlen via Mariastein, leave at „Mariastein, Kloster“
