For the first time, the Domaine National de Chambord is hosting a stained glass artist, Kim En Joong, a major figure in this centuries- old art, for the exhibition Colors of the Invisible, from March 29 to August 31, 2025. The artist has been invited for a six-week residency at Chambord to create three canvases, one of which will be selected for the exhibition. Some of Father Kim’s most beautiful stained glass works, displayed in the transepts and rooms on the second floor of the château, resonate deeply with the spirit of a monument whose very architecture is an ode to the circulation of light.The painting created during the residency will be exhibited alongside around forty stained glass pieces, paintings, and ceramics.
| Chambord, a heritage revitalized by contempory creationAfter welcoming around thirty artists, including Lionel Sabatté, Wang Keping, Pablo Reinoso, and Julien des Monstiers, the Domaine national de Chambord now invites stained glass artist Kim En Joong for a residency, followed by an exhibition. Since 2011, Chambord has served as a creative laboratory, hosting artists and writers in residence, leading to unique exhibitions. |
| “Chambord is a château filled with windows, some adorned with stained glass with an architecture designed to circulate light. Father Kim En Joong’s works will find a luminous resonance here. By inviting a stained glass artist for the first time, we aim not only to highlight his talent but also to celebrate this ever-evolving art from that blends tradition and modernity.” Pierre-Gilles Girault Director of Public Engagement and Cultural Programs at the Domaine national de Chambord |
| Kim En Joong, in residence at ChambordAhead of the exhibition, Father Kim will take up residence at the château de Chambord starting February 17, 2025.During his two visits to Chambord, Father Kim was struck by the monument’s spiritual dimension, with its Greek cross-shaped layout oriented according to the cardinal points—likely inspired by Saint John’s Revelation and the description of the Heavenly Jerusalem.Deeply moved by this extraordinary architecture and the shifting light that floods the grand vaulted rooms of the second floor, the artist decided to create monumental in-situ paintings (oil and acrylic, 2.16m x 7m). These three canvases—one of which will be featured in the exhibition—will be dedicated to Saint Louis, in reference to the patronage under which Chambord’s church is placed. |
| The Exhibition Colors of the InvisibleFrom March 29 to August 31, the exhibition Colors of the Invisible will bring together nearly 900m2 of space featuring around forty works by Kim En Joong, including some never before shown to the public: 34 stained glass pieces (a total of 56 panels), ceramics, a folding screen, a fan, and four paintings.This exhibition is the result of a close collaboration between the Domaine national de Chambord and the International Stained Glass Center in Chartres, where Kim En Joong’s work was in the spotlight until February 2025. The center’s director, Jean-François Lagier, serves as associate curator for the exhibition.Light plays a fundamental role in the exhibition. The works installed under the coffered vaults are positioned at the ends of Chambord’s transepts, engaging with the natural light that shifts throughout the day depending on the sun’s orientation. This ever- changing illumination brings the works to life, casting colored shadows onto the floor and walls, transforming each space into a dynamic visual spectacle.In the adjacent rooms, stained glass pieces, ceramics, and paintings are displayed in an intimate setting, allowing for a closer appreciation of Kim En Joong’s artistic vision. |
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| Vue d’exposition © Sophie Lloyd |
| Kim en Joong : the art of painting with lightKim En Joong was born in 1940 in Korea. From a young age, he practiced calligraphy before discovering Western art at the Seoul School of Fine Arts. In 1969, he moved to Switzerland, where he found his true vocation through the spirituality of the Dominican monks. In France, he was captivated by the radiant light of Provence and the more subtle hues of Brittany. His first stained glass work, created for the new cathedral of Évry in 1998, revealed his exceptional talent as a painter of light within architecture.With over a hundred stained glass creations for significant spiritual sites in France and around the world, his work has made a major contribution to the history of stained glass and sacred art. His stained glass pieces can be found in: Vaison-la-Romaine Cathedral (France), N’Djamena Cathedral (Chad), Brussels Basilica (Belgium), Numerous churches, chapels, and monasteries in France, Korea, Italy, Australia, and Germany.By using modern techniques, such as large sheets of float glass cut to fit architectural openings, Kim En Joong has freed his brushstrokes from the constraints of lead cames, which traditionally frame stained glass. He concentrates bursts of vibrant color in specific areas while leaving large white or transparent spaces, creating heightened contrast. Kim En Joong has profoundly transformed the art of stained glass, opening new paths for contemporary sacred art. He describes his approach as «painting reality», a reality glimpsed through the union of faith and art. |
| « The works presented in this exhibition are the result of more than 60 years of creation. In the sublime and serene space of the château de Chambord, visitors will discover the radiant light of the stained glass — a light that will illuminate not only the space but also their souls.” Kim En Joong |
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| Vue d’exposition © Sophie Lloyd |
| The Domaine national de ChambordFor over 500 years, Chambord has inspired admiration and fascination worldwide. Listed as a historic monument in France since 1840 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, it is one of the Renaissance’s most remarkable constructions and the largest walled park in Europe, covering 5,440 hectares. As the second most-visited château in France, Chambord attracts over one million visitors annually.Owned by the French state since 1930, the Domaine national de Chambord operates as a public institution under the supervision of the Ministries of Culture, Agriculture, and Environment, with the patronage of the President of the Republic. The public institution, led by Pierre Dubreuil since January 2023, also manages the Grand Parc de Rambouillet. |
| Pratical Information « Colors of the Invisible »Exhibition from March 29 to August 31, 2025 Opening hours : 9am-6pm Domaine national de Chambord 41250 Chambord Accessible from Paris via the A10 highway or Austerlitz train station Full price €19 / Reduced price € 16,50 Free admission for visitors under 18 years old and EU residens under 26. www.chambord.org |
