Simsangmu K-Cross Project Story

Hello, supporters! This is artist Simsangmu.

I am a woodcraft master who has spent many years working with wood.

Carving and shaping wood is not just about creating a form, but about reading the grain of the wood and patiently waiting over time.

It was with this same mindset that I began making crosses.

One day, as I was looking at several crosses,
"Why should a cross only be seen from one direction?"
This thought came to me.

That question led to years of research and trial and error, and eventually, I completed a three-dimensional cross whose shape continues from every angle.

I wanted the crosses I make to hold meaning beyond their simple form.

A wish for peace, a heart full of love, joy and gratitude, mercy for those who are suffering, and even the earnest prayers each person holds in their heart.

I hope that those who look at the cross can discover its meaning within their own lives.

Through this Wadiz Funding, I am grateful to be able to personally share the crosses I have crafted over many years and their stories with more people.

The background for preparing this project is,

Artist Simsangmu, who has created works based on Korean wood and traditional woodworking techniques for many years, believes that the cross should go beyond being a simple religious symbol,and become a work that embodies life, prayer, and the touch of a Korean artisan. This has always been my belief.

The three-dimensional cross created by artist Simsangmu is an original piece designed so that the shape of the cross can be felt from the front, back, left, and right—no matter the angle.

Especially, the cross presented in this projectis a work that holds the same meaning and form as the Simsangmu Cross that was presented as a gift to Pope Francis. It is.

Through this Wadiz Funding, we aim to officially introduce artist Sim Sang-moo's cross, which until now could only be seen at select exhibitions and showcases, to a wider audience.

Also, from the final payment amount of this project,2% will be donated to places in need, so that the meaning of love and sharing embodied by the cross can be put into real action.

This project we are presenting has this story.

1. The K-Cross delivered to the Pope

Sim Sang-moo's cross is a work completed by the hands of a Korean artisan, and it was also presented as a gift to Pope Francis.

In this Wadiz project, we are introducing Sim Sang-moo's cross, imbued with special meaning, in earnest for the first time.

It is not simply a decorative cross, but a K-Cross that contains Korean wood, artisan craftsmanship, and the meaning of prayer together.K-Cross It is.

2. About 18 years of waiting for a single cross

The ailanthus wood used in this Funding was felled in November 2008 to create a highly refined cross,felled in November 2008, and is solid wood that has undergone a long period of drying and preparation.

After about 18 years of preparation, the wood finally becomes a single cross through the hands of Sim Sang-moo.

This is not a product made quickly; we considered the time spent preparing the wood as part of the artwork itself.

3. A three-dimensional cross that connects from every angle

"Why should the cross only be viewed from the front?"

Starting from this question, artist Sim Sang-moo went through countless thoughts and trials and errors to complete a three-dimensional structure where the shape of the cross continues from any direction—front, back, left, or right.

And by expanding on that meaning,Peace, Love, Joy, Mercy, Aspiration he created a cross that contains these five messages.

In this project, you can find both a form without the figure of Jesus and a version with a pure silver figure of Jesus added.

The reason we chose Wadiz is,

The Sim Sang-moo Cross is not a product that is quickly mass-produced by machines.

Preparing the wood, carving each piece, assembling, and refining all require a lot of time and care.

So rather than simply selling a product,why this cross was created, what kind of wood was used, and what meaning it holds, I wanted to share that story first.

I thought Wadiz is not just a place to showcase finished products, but a space where projects are created together with supporters who empathize with the background and the maker's story.

I hope this project will be an opportunity for those encountering the Sim Sang-moo Cross for the first time to discover a new K-Cross, and for those already familiar with the work to deeply reconnect with its meaning.

The Sim Sang-moo K-Cross, containing wood that waited 18 years, the touch of a Korean artisan, and the meaning of prayer.
Now, for the first time, we introduce it to you on Wadiz.