Chapter 66

66

A pristine morning.

At the Bloom Art Museum, which had yet to open, in Exhibition Room 4.

The sunlight pouring in from the ceiling was touching the hammer of the sculpture.

Ryu Jeong-hyung, who was admiring the grandeur, lifted his head.

The unique texture of the marble, which the sculpture possessed, was revealed wherever the sunlight reached. Just looking at the back, which glistened and shone as if sweat was flowing, was truly delightful.

To be honest, Ryu Jeong-hyung preferred the back of the sculpture, which seemed to be imbued with a divine presence, over the face. It was a matter of personal taste.

Satisfaction spread across Ryu Jeong-hyung's face.

Of course, that satisfaction would not be visible to Jin Doo-wook, the director of the Bloom Art Museum, who was still standing stiffly, looking at Ryu Jeong-hyung.

Ryu Jeong-hyung.

One of the five board members under the chairman of the Sanggang Cultural Foundation, and until a few years ago, he had served as the president of the Han Yang University of Arts.

An elite among elites, having studied at Korea High School, Korea University, and Yale University.

As a second-generation artist who followed the typical elite course for Korean art geniuses, he received his Ph.D. from Yale University and has been a professor in the Department of Sculpture at the Han Yang University of Arts since 1996, dedicating himself to nurturing the next generation.

Usually, Jin Doo-wook had little to do with such a person, but recently, thanks to this sculpture, they had been meeting quite frequently. Jin Doo-wook, wiping a bead of cold sweat, looked at Ryu Jeong-hyung's back, unsure whether to be pleased or not.

It had already been over forty minutes.

He wondered when the appreciation would end, but on the other hand, he could understand why it took so long.

Even Jin Doo-wook, when he first saw the sculpture, used to come and stamp his attendance every day with the sculptor Yang Seon-gu. It was a work worth that much.

As Jin Doo-wook continued his thoughts,

Ryu Jeong-hyung, after a forty-minute-long appreciation, slowly turned his head. His sharp jawline, which suggested he didn't eat much, was revealed.

"This is a truly excellent work, the more you look at it."

Right?

Ryu Jeong-hyung turned completely to seek agreement. He was wearing glasses, and the strap, which was almost like a sacred rosary you might see in a church, caught his eye.

In that moment, as he unconsciously stared at the reverent strap resting on his shoulder,

"Is that not the case?"

Ryu Jeong-hyung's voice, urging a response, pierced his ear. Jin Doo-wook, who had been lost in thought, suddenly came to his senses and replied.

"No, it's a great work."

He meant it.

"It was truly magnificent when I saw it with lightning during the rainy season. I wonder how it will look in the snow. Haha. Ha."

"Oho?"

Ryu Jeong-hyung, hearing Jin Doo-wook's awkward laugh, raised an eyebrow.

"To think that you can still see it here in the summer, it seems the contract went smoothly?"

"Ah, yes. I should have thanked you... Thanks to Mr. Ryu Jeong-hyung, the contract was concluded smoothly."

"That's good to hear."

Ryu Jeong-hyung approached Jin Doo-wook.

"Can you tell me how the contract was structured?"

"Ah... Well, it's like this."

Ryu Jeong-hyung's squinted eyes narrowed at Jin Doo-wook's answer.

The contract was as follows:

First, the Bloom Art Museum, which could accommodate the sculpture by Kang Seok, actively presented the limited number of domestic art museums capable of doing so and signed a contract for the rental of the exhibition space.

The admission tickets for entering Exhibition Room 4 would continue to be sold through a pre-booking system, and the Bloom Art Museum would receive a certain commission as a fee for operating the exhibition and renting the space.

The contract renewal period was three years.

Thus, for the next three years, the sculpture would be exhibited at the Bloom Art Museum.

"Not a bad contract."

In fact, it would have been difficult for the Bloom Art Museum to gain more benefits than this.

'Isn't Yang Seon-gu senior treating Kang Seok like his own child?'

If Kang Seok were to sign a disadvantageous contract, it was clear that Yang Seon-gu would go wild. After all, it was Yang Seon-gu who had opened the Bloom Art Museum to the public, fearing that even a scratch might appear on the work.

If a good contract had not been made, Yang Seon-gu, who had a fiery temper despite his calm appearance, would have moved the work to another art museum, even at his own expense, rather than leaving it at the Bloom.

"It's a bit disappointing that we didn't buy the work, though."

Of course, buying the work was impossible from the beginning.

– 'I don't plan to sell the work yet.'

Kang Seok, during the entire graduation exhibition period, refused to sell the work, rejecting any offers, no matter how high, and strongly emphasized his unwillingness to sell.

No one thought that a work with the name 'Kang Seok' would be easily sold. So, securing the exhibition rights for the sculpture was a significant achievement.

The more a promising artist's early works are held, the better. As Kang Seok's works gradually enter the world and he becomes famous, people will be curious about his early thoughts and will visit this place.

We had to secure the exhibition rights for the sculpture to keep people coming for as long as possible.

"You're quite resourceful."

It was said that he negotiated the contract terms alone, without any adult assistance... How could a nineteen-year-old be so seasoned? Ryu Jeong-hyung, looking at the sculpture over his glasses, clicked his tongue.

He had the patience of a predator, not seeking immediate large gains.

Ryu Jeong-hyung, recalling Kang Seok's face, which he had never seen in person, muttered to himself.

"How many of Kang Seok's works will be created in Korea in the future?"

"Yes?"

"No, just talking to myself."

Ryu Jeong-hyung, smiling softly, turned his body again. He had to move to his next appointment soon. Recalling the chairman of the Sanggang Cultural Foundation, whom he was to meet at the Bloom Art Museum, Ryu Jeong-hyung looked up.

He wanted to see it a little longer.

And Jin Doo-wook, the director, was watching him from behind.

'How many more of Kang Seok's works will be created in Korea in the future?'

Jin Doo-wook was trying to pick up the thread of the conversation that had been cut off, thinking to himself. The words Kang Seok had said yesterday flashed through Jin Doo-wook's mind.

– 'By the way, when is that art fair?'

Kang Seok's eyes, which had shown an unreserved interest in the art fair, also came to mind. If he asked about the art fair, it was possible that he would soon exhibit his work at the art fair.

If he participates in an international art fair, Kang Seok will gradually become well-known. While it's good for Kang Seok to become famous, it's also a bit sad and disappointing to think that his works will also become famous.

After all,

Kang Seok's works were all large. The larger they became, the more difficult it would be to move the sculptures, and they might be created from the beginning in foreign countries. If that happens, it would be even more difficult to bring large sculptures to Korea due to their difficulty in movement.

Kang Seok's works would end up being far away, like many works in distant countries.

'All I can do is hope that he creates many works before going abroad...'

Just as Jin Doo-wook was trying to console his disappointment with this wish,

"Wouldn't it be nice if at least one more work was created in Korea?"

Ryu Jeong-hyung's voice pierced Jin Doo-wook. Before Jin Doo-wook could respond, Ryu Jeong-hyung asked another question.

"Has the sculptor for the statue in front of the Sanggang Foundation Museum, which I asked about last time, not been decided yet?"

"......Yes?"

Could it be...?

Jin Doo-wook, the director, looked at Ryu Jeong-hyung in surprise.

Behind Ryu Jeong-hyung, the morning sun was rising.

* * * *

"Then, sir, I'll go."

Kang Seok, having said this, moved to leave the interview room. Kim Su-hak, his homeroom teacher, watched him leave with a dazed expression.

Click.

Closing the door, Kang Seok stepped out into the bright corridor, a smile forming on his lips. He felt relieved after speaking.

While a society where academic credentials are not important in Korea is coming soon, they are still necessary for living in the current Republic of Korea. It was a statement he had heard repeatedly. However, Kang Seok didn't think it necessarily applied to him.

Four years.

It was too long a time to be tied down by university.

With this thought, he found himself at the stairs. To get to the third-year classroom, he needed to go up. Just as he was about to take a step, he changed his mind. Tap tap tap tap. Then he started to quickly go down the stairs.

'Before the rumor spreads, it's better to inform Mr. Jung Byung-kwon separately.'

If he hears through the grapevine that I decided not to go to university, he might misunderstand.

His steps quickened as he aimed to return before the class started. The sculpture studio, unlike the Delphinium Hall, which is at the far right when you go up the stairs at the back of the main building, was at the far left, near the incinerator.

Despite being a large studio for sculpture majors, it was in a corner, so almost no one knew that the sculpture major had such a large studio.

And no one came looking for it.

Jung Byung-kwon was probably holed up in the studio, working.

'It's been quite a while since I came here.'

It was probably because it was the final exam period. He hadn't been there since the practical exam at the beginning of the final exams.

'After that, with all the interviews and self-study time, I stopped coming...'

In any case, it had been a while.

Feeling a bit nostalgic, Kang Seok hurried towards the sculpture studio.

"......What?"

"......Sculpture......!"

"......What......?"

Inside, voices were heard, unlike usual.

It wasn't just one or two people.

'Who is here at this time?'

Kang Seok slightly opened the door to the sculpture studio. Thanks to Mr. Jung Byung-kwon, who always oiled the hinges, the door opened smoothly and silently.

"Let's ask Kang Seok for help now......!"

"No......! I mean! Asking for help is a joke. Is Kang Seok a Buddha statue club? Honestly, don't you remember how he was almost kicked out of the mural club when he was almost forced to join the sculpture major as a freshman? How can we call him back......? Have some conscience."

"Ugh! I'm not asking for free. I'm saying we should pay him to commission the work."

The topic of conversation was about Kang Seok himself.

– 'The school's Buddha statue club won't bother you. Is it okay?'

– '......But they haven't bothered you yet, right?'

Was this what Senior Choi Young-tae was talking about? Kang Seok, with his usual expressionless face, walked inside. The voices were getting more intense.

It seemed that the core members of the Buddha statue club were almost all gathered.

"Is there any progress? It's been less than two months, and we're not making any progress. The things we've made are terrible......! How can we face the seniors? Let's just pay Kang Seok to do it."

As he approached, the figures of the students became visible.

They were carving wood, and pieces of wood, roughly shaped, were scattered everywhere. Some had sweat towels tied around their heads, while others had their bangs tied back with rubber bands.

Their fingertips were stained red, probably from the dye.

"Do you even know how much Kang Seok is worth these days? Do you remember the sculpture he exhibited in Exhibition Room 4 during the graduation exhibition? Do you know that he's extended the exhibition, and that corporate art galleries are offering him millions to get the sculpture, but he hasn't budged? Do you think he'll move for our small amount of money......?"

"Then what can we do? What can we do?"

"Hey! You've been raising your voice this whole time, but it's just noise!"

The atmosphere was tense, as if a fight could break out at any moment.

Mr. Jung Byung-kwon was nowhere to be seen.

Kang Seok, watching them shout without realizing he had entered, clenched his fists.

He pounded the desk, and a dull, clear sound echoed.

"......Seok?"

"It's Kang Seok."

"Ah!"

"......Seok......!"

Seeing that all the students' eyes were on him, Kang Seok leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and asked,

"Alright, let's hear it. What's going on?"

Let's see what it is.

Kang Seok's piercing gaze made one of the male students swallow hard.

.

.

.

"So, you're saying that the World Buddhist Academic Conference is being held in our country, and you've been tasked with creating a promotional Buddha statue?"

Kang Seok asked, and the students nodded.

"We won a Buddha statue-making competition as part of our curriculum......!"

"If someone hadn't suggested entering the competition at the end of the first semester of our third year......! We're already busy preparing for early admission, and when are we supposed to make the Buddha statue......? Ah."

"But, how many famous people in Buddha statue-making are there? Did you really think we could do it?"

As soon as one student spoke, three or four others chimed in, creating a chaotic scene.

"Quiet. Quiet."

Kang Seok moved his hand up and down, and the students fell silent. They were good listeners.

"So, to summarize, you need to create a Buddha statue by the end of August or early September to attract as many people as possible to the academic conference, right?"

Right?

Kang Seok sought agreement, and Jung Young-ho, the president of the Buddha statue club, nodded vigorously.

"Right."

As Jung Young-ho spoke, the other students looked at each other and mumbled.

"This is being organized by the World Buddhist Society, which publishes the most authoritative academic journal in the world. If we make a mistake, it will be a big problem."

"In Korea, it's called the Buddhist Olympics......"

"I know that too."

Kang Seok was also a member of the Buddha statue club in his first year.

The peculiar thing about the club was that, since Buddha statues and Buddhism are inseparable, you naturally pick up a lot of information.

In any case,

To summarize, the issue was this.

Winning the competition to select the team for creating the promotional Buddha statue was good