Chapter 60

60

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Gangseok was already seated in a chair.

The white sunlight poured onto Gangseok, who was sitting on a tall folding chair in front of the glass wall, which was blocked by a statue.

Behind Gangseok stood a sculpture over 5.7 meters tall.

Holding the microphone, he quietly spoke to the audience, who were all looking at him. Gangseok's low voice echoed through the exhibition room 4 via the speakers.

"Father once told me, 'I'm sorry I couldn't pass on good talent to you.'"

It was a unique charm of the opening ceremony for an exhibition for the artist to explain the work himself. However, it wasn't common for everyone to be so focused and looking at him like this, even at an opening ceremony.

It was quite thrilling.

It was thrilling that they understood the meaning without any explanation, that they could feel the emotions just by looking at it, and that they could sense something indescribable in words.

Perhaps that was why art was eternally loved.

Looking beyond time and space, Gangseok, who had once again showcased his talent to the world, turned his gaze back to his father.

His father's eyes were redder than anyone else's. Gangseok's lips twitched, and he felt a lump in his throat.

Father.

You said you were sorry for not passing on good talent to me.

Looking at his father, who resembled the giant statue behind him, Gangseok finally spoke the words he had been holding back for a long time, in front of the audience.

"No, Father."

Gangseok immediately refuted his father's words.

A loving family is not a given.

There are not many families who support art, which requires a lot of money and has no guarantee of a return.

Not all parents encourage their children to continue even without talent, and not all parents feel sorry for not giving much.

You are special.

"Look at what you gave me."

You gave me a dream, you gave me the attitude to pursue it without giving up, and you gave me the belief that I could be happy even if I lived pursuing my dreams.

"Isn't it really big and amazing?"

At his words, even Gang Hyundo's head bowed. It was not a bow of regret, and Gangseok's lips curved into a smile.

Only then did people notice the situation, looking back and forth between the statue and Gang Hyundo, and they burst into applause. Those clapping seemed to be as happy as if they had received a gift, their eyes welling up.

Gangseok, Gangseok, Gangseok!

The cheers of encouragement turned into applause for the appearance of the genius sculptor who had emerged like a comet.

It was the moment a new star was born.

How long had the enthusiastic cheers and heat lasted? A man, who had bravely hung a camera around his neck, raised his hand. He was a reporter, already sitting cross-legged on the floor with a laptop on his knees.

Even though his hand was raised from near his knees, it was so desperate that Gangseok couldn't help but look at him.

When Gangseok looked at him with a questioning gaze, the reporter interpreted it as permission to ask a question and his mouth moved quickly.

"So, did you sculpt it to express your gratitude to your father?"

It was a rather trivial question for such a solemn inquiry. Did you sculpt marble to express gratitude to your father? Gangseok scratched his nose.

"No."

The first word out of his mouth was a denial.

"Just...,"

Gangseok had never intended to sculpt something in his previous life or this one. He swore to the heavens that it was true.

"When I tried to sculpt, I saw my father's back inside the marble."

"..."

"So I sculpted it."

"Because it would have been suffocating for him to stay in there." Gangseok added in a matter-of-fact tone. It was a truly fairy-tale-like and romantic expression.

The reporter unconsciously swallowed hard.

With such a romantic expression, he couldn't bring himself to ask the next question he had prepared.

'How much would you like your work to sell for?'

This was a great work of art.

Therefore, he couldn't bring himself to ask how much the sculptor would be satisfied with for the sale of this statue. In an era where the value of modern works was often discussed in terms of price, it was a strange thing.

It would certainly be a proud moment for the artist if it sold for a high price. However, the reporter felt it would be rude to speak of the value of the work so casually.

How could one possibly assign a value to this work, which captured such a respected father?

He couldn't.

'Besides, he's only nineteen, why is it so hard to look at him...?'

The reporter felt cold sweat trickling down his temples.

"Thank you for your answer."

After the reporter quietly finished his short question.

Gangseok's gaze shifted to the other people holding cameras. It was an invitation to ask more questions. Always accustomed to receiving questions, Gangseok looked at them comfortably, inviting them to ask anything.

But there were no more questions.

There were reporters in the exhibition room, but they hesitated to ask a question that might cross the line.

If the number of views went up, it might not be bad, but this high school student's stock was already at its peak here.

Who would want to start a conflict with someone who would become even more famous in the future?

So they quietly watched as Gangseok politely excused himself and walked towards the exit with his father.

After they slowly left the exhibition room.

The reporters then quietly sat cross-legged and took out their laptops, or quickly walked towards the exit of the exhibition room to record what they had seen.

Some people quickly turned off their camera flashes and attached lenses to take pictures of the work behind the glass.

The phones of ordinary visitors to the exhibition room also busily opened camera apps, social media, and KakaoTalk.

And among them, a line of people who had been admiring the statue for a long time extended towards the glass wall.

They quietly placed bouquets of flowers and chocolates in front of the glass wall, expressing their gratitude for being able to see such a work. They also adjusted the positions of the bouquets and chocolates to ensure they didn't cover the name.

In this way, the first marble sculpture by the nineteen-year-old sculptor Gangseok was revealed to the world.

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A blue sky.

Gang Chae-young, worried that the snacks in her hands might get cold, kept looking back. The exit connected to Exhibition Room 4 of the Bloom Art Museum was at the end of her gaze.

"Why aren't they coming out yet?"

Compared to the previous group, it was a bit slower. Nothing must have happened, but Gang Chae-young blew her bangs in worry. She was about to rush back into Exhibition Room 4 through the exit.

At that moment.

Two figures emerged from the exit.

School uniform and suit.

Gangseok and Gang Hyundo.

"Brother! Dad!"

Gang Chae-young ran over like a bullet, heading towards Gangseok. She was more excited to see Gangseok, whom she hadn't seen in a while, even though she was also happy to see her father.

In the meantime.

As Gang Chae-young hugged the snacks to Gangseok's chest, Baek Myung-hee suddenly appeared and looked at Gang Hyundo.

"You. Why are your eyes so red? Oh, look at your red eyes. Oh, what is this? Did you cry?"

Baek Myung-hee's tone, which was initially calm, rose, and her eyes grew wide like a rabbit's.

"Dad, did you cry? Why?"

Gang Chae-young also looked at Gang Hyundo in surprise. Her expression was one of disbelief. Gang Hyundo waved his hands in confusion, as it was too long a story to explain.

"Brother, you know, right?"

"Yeah. Seok, you tell her. Why did this gentleman suddenly cry?"

Gangseok, unable to say he had made him cry, had a troubled look on his face. Looking at Baek Myung-hee and Gang Chae-young, whose eyes had grown wide like rabbits, he suddenly saw the blue sky over his shoulder. People were looking back at the noisy scene.

A sunny day.

A harmonious family.

A peaceful world.

Gangseok couldn't hold back his laughter.

He was happy.

* * * *

After Gangseok's marble sculpture was revealed in Exhibition Room 4 of the Bloom Art Museum.

The world, as expected, was turned upside down.

Articles that usually didn't get many views and were buried in the back were now featured in the [Most Viewed News Articles] rankings, and the Bloom Art Museum, , and Gangseok frequently appeared in the popular search rankings.

People continued to make pilgrimages to see the marble sculpture, which seemed to have brought the Renaissance back to life. Despite technological advancements, the awe-inspiring wonder there was unparalleled.

If one could see the Renaissance without going to Vatican or Florence, there was no reason not to go. The Bloom Art Museum, overwhelmed by the unexpected boom, which was more crowded than an amusement park, reinstated a 100% reservation system for Exhibition Room 4.

Despite this, people followed without complaint. Some even tried to cut in line to see it again, and there were various complaints about impolite visitors.

Amid the surge of complaints, people welcomed the return of the reservation system with open arms.

Of course, the museum didn't forget to accept several times more reservations than the usual limited number of visitors to the Bloom Art Museum.

While the Bloom Art Museum was rejoicing in popularity akin to the Louvre Museum.

The interest in Gangseok and the model for the sculpture, Gang Hyundo, grew like snow.

Gangseok's mother, Baek Myung-hee, was once again feeling the popularity.

"Hmm. Hmm. Something like that?"

It was already past 6 PM, but the sky was still bright blue, as summer was approaching. People passing by glanced at [Seok's Furniture Store], having heard from social media that it was run by Gangseok's parents.

Baek Myung-hee turned her back.

She was in a position where her face couldn't be seen from the street.

In front of her was a calendar.

July 5th.

It had been a week since the graduation exhibition at the Bloom Art Museum. Even after a week, the interest and enthusiasm showed no signs of waning.

Perhaps it was the kind of popularity that flared up again after dying down. Despite this, Baek Myung-hee's lips curved into a smile. It was a joy to see her son receive so much attention.

These days, the whole family's faces were always beaming with smiles.

At that moment.

— So, Seok's mom, I was right, wasn't I? That Renaissance mall on the 8th floor is being remodeled.

"Huh?"

— I'm talking about the mural. It was painted by your son, right? Right?

It was already the sixth time she had heard the same question. Baek Myung-hee nodded. Her son had given her a special order to answer such questions truthfully without hesitation.

"Yes. My son painted it from start to finish. All of it was done by my son."

— Oh my. Oh my. Oh my! In the world...! I knew it. Your eldest son has been good at drawing since he was little. I, when people said he was at the bottom of the class, I thought there must have been some mistake in the evaluation. I, I was the only one who stood up for him.

"Uh-huh."

Baek Myung-hee nodded again, already at the point of hearing with one ear and letting it out the other. Despite listening to the meaningless conversation, her gaze was fixed on the tightly closed workshop door.

She had barely managed to get her husband out of the workshop, and now her son and husband had been locked in there for a week.

It had been a week since the day after the opening ceremony of the graduation exhibition. She fed them meat at every meal, but she couldn't help worrying if they were hungry.

— So, Seok's mom...

Baek Myung-hee stared at the door.

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Unaware of Baek Myung-hee's worries, Gangseok was concentrating and turning the screwdriver. It was the final assembly stage.

Gang Hyundo, watching him, held back his thirst, not wanting to disturb him in the slightest. In front of them was a chair.

Gang Hyundo quietly licked his lips, looking at the bright-toned mesh material chair that Baek Myung-hee liked.

— "Father, can I use the workshop?"

— "Sure, but what are you going to do?"

A week ago.

On the way home, he readily allowed his son to use the furniture store workshop, which he hadn't used in a long time, but he was too curious to hold back.

Gangseok had several workshops where he could work freely. He knew that after the marble work in Exhibition Room 4 was completed, the museum director, moved by it, had provided a new workspace in an empty room of the museum, and that a workspace was also set up in the glass workshop.

It was obvious that other places would be more convenient for work than the furniture store workshop, which was only suitable for wood.

Why?

Perhaps because he wanted to be with him?

Gang Hyundo, with red ears, waited for the words to come out of his mouth.

— "A chair. Didn't I promise to make one for you?"

— "Really going to make it?"

— "Yes. I'll start with yours, then mine, and then Mom's and Chae-young's."

And as always, Gangseok never disappointed him. Gang Hyundo looked at Gangseok lovingly while holding on to the last thread of reason.

— "Our angelic son. Thank you. But this time, why don't you start with your mother's chair?"

Even if it was unlikely, disappointment could come from anywhere.

No matter how kind, gentle, and beautiful Baek Myung-hee was, if Gangseok made his father's chair again after making the huge sculpture, she might get upset.

He hadn't raised his son alone. He wasn't the only one who washed, dried, and ironed Gangseok's school uniform every day and cheered for him. Gang Hyundo readily suggested making Baek Myung-hee's chair first.

— "You're right. Thanks for the advice, Father."

Gang Hyundo smiled.

He was willing to make this concession since he had received the Metus Airgat Metallic.

'I shouldn't have.'

Gang Hyundo regretted it, looking at the small chair with a mesh material seat, designed for the parts of the body that would touch it. Even though it wasn't tailored to his body, he couldn't forget the feel of the headrest he had tried before assembly.

'That incredible comfort...'

Gang Hyundo looked at the chair, like a dry person digging a well.

None of the headrest, backrest, seat, legs, seat height, feel, curves that cradled the hips, height of the headrest touching the chair, seat size, or any other aspect was not tailored to Baek Myung-hee.

After hugging Baek Myung-hee once, Gangseok had immediately started drawing an anatomical diagram and sketching the chair. It was an unforgettable scene.

What could he not do?

Thinking of the feel of the headrest, Gang Hyundo had a dazed look on his face. After the custom-made headrest by Gangseok touched his neck, he could no longer feel the comfort of the headrest included as an option in the Metus Airgat.

It was a reverse sensation.

He wished they would finish Baek Myung-hee's chair and then make his. While thinking this, he blankly watched Gangseok assemble the chair.

Squeak, squeak. Click.

"..."

Gangseok's mouth opened slightly.

"It's done."

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Michelangelo left these words:

"The skeleton of architectural structure is related to the limbs of the human body. Therefore, a person who does not know how to make a human figure sculpture or does not know anatomy cannot understand architecture at all. Especially if they do not know anatomy, it will be even more so."

According to Michelangelo's judgment, architecture starts from the human body. He believed that one must be inspired by the human body to do architecture.

He thought that only those who could shape the human form could become masters of architecture.

Now, let's think according to Michelangelo's words.

Then, what kind of feeling would a chair made by Michelangelo, who had no equal in human anatomy, have?

The modern architectural master Le Corbusier said, "A chair is a small building," to the extent that a chair should be considered a small building that encapsulates the style, philosophy, and technology of the architect.

A chair, which is called a small building, must support us for a long time, touch our bodies the longest, and be the furniture we use the most in a day.

A chair.

If Michelangelo were to make one...

Without a doubt, the highest level of comfort would be there.

61. The evening of July 5th