Chapter 67

67

* * * *

Michelangelo did not like Raphael.

The two were, in a word, quite different.

One day,

when Michelangelo passed by where Raphael was with his disciples, he said,

"Where are you going, surrounded by all these officials?"

To which Raphael retorted,

"You, on the other hand, always seem to be alone like a ruffian."

The wild Michelangelo Buonarroti and the charming Raphael.

Raphael, with his youthful good looks that women adored, spread numerous rumors of affairs, while Michelangelo, with a poor disposition, maintained a distant relationship with his fellow artists, disliked his appearance due to his sunken nose, and was markedly unattractive.

In any case,

what I want to say is this:

Is it possible to have Michelangelo's artistic talent and Raphael's appearance?

I met such a person not long ago.

The world is so unfair.

– Excerpt from a blog post recording the words of Yang Seongu, the author of "Lessons with a Sculptor" and a first-generation sculptor, during a lecture

* * * *

The sky was filled with an orange hue, like an orange.

At the Peony Gallery director's office, Seol Yejin peeled a lollipop and pouted, her eyes fiercely wide open.

Her gaze was fixed on the computer screen.

- I agree. Honestly, it was uncomfortable when everyone said it was a hit, but it's true, right? 5.7 meters? Do they know whose doghouse that is? It's the Statue of David.

- I wish they would stop calling him the Korean Michelangelo or a genius high school student. No more genius hype, please. Genius X, Genius hype O.

- (After checking Google, similar comments from other Koreans. Michelangelo? lol! Use that money to buy a ticket to Florence, PIZ!)

- (NM, they'll stop eventually.)

- Review, let's go!

- Review1111111

- Review222222

- Review333333

These were the hateful comments that started boiling up as the Bloom Art Museum promoted the sculpture Gang Seok created.

Seol Yejin sighed in anger as she looked at the hateful comments under the video promoting the extended exhibition of the sculpture in Exhibition Room 4.

"These people are really..."

Her soft voice carried a sense of anger.

Seol Yejin, who had already peeled the lollipop wrapper, put the strawberry-flavored lollipop in her mouth like a cigarette. She then placed her well-manicured hands on the keyboard.

The moment she thought her nail polish, matching her skin tone, was reflecting the lighting, her fingers began to tap the keyboard.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Seol Yejin leaned back, her chair sliding backward. The sky was visible, already tinged with the sunset.

I'm really annoyed.

Seol Yejin, rarely frowning, stared at the sky beyond the window. She couldn't help but be angry. Gang Seok's work was genuine.

Even before visiting the Bloom Art Museum, she didn't believe that he had carved a 5.7-meter sculpture in just a few months, but it was true.

The shock of the first time the door to Exhibition Room 4 at the Bloom Art Museum opened was still vivid. She had no idea who first called him the Korean Michelangelo, but she had never thought it was more fitting.

Intuitive beauty.

The grand and rough nature that came from its simplicity was exactly like Michelangelo.

Even the respect for his father and the humanism expressed in the work. It was so human-centered that it felt like the Renaissance had come to life again.

"Really, if you came to see it, you'd understand... Why don't you?"

If they had seen it, they wouldn't have said such things. There was an incomparable sense of awe there, unlike the statues found on the streets worldwide.

Even without knowledge of art, one could be moved, and without reading the description, one could interpret what was being expressed. It made you want to study more to understand the artist's worldview.

Seol Yejin bit the lollipop with her molars.

Only the ignorant online trolls didn't know, but these days, everyone in the art world knew that Gang Seok would make a big impact.

The proof was the visitors who, after seeing one of Gang Seok's works, were enchanted and went around looking for more to appreciate.

Many people, drawn by the magic, went from admiring Renaissance frescoes to visiting the Peony Gallery.

'And I'm a witness to the benefits of this.'

With the 8th floor of the Renaissance Mall undergoing long-term renovation and the Bloom Art Museum operating on a reservation system, more people were repeatedly visiting the Peony Gallery to see the two works there.

And with more people, some were buying art for investment or getting hooked on the docent's explanations and purchasing pieces.

In fact, the increase in visitors meant an increase in sales.

Seol Yejin, calculating the gallery's increased sales after Gang Seok's work was displayed, shook her head with the lollipop in her mouth. She couldn't tell if the sweet taste was from the candy or the sweet sound of the gallery's rising sales.

'Just half a year.'

It felt like less than half a year, yet Gang Seok's reputation had risen so much. It was unbelievable, considering he hadn't participated in any competitions or art fairs.

It was a rare case for someone not a famous celebrity to become so famous so quickly in this field.

'Did Mr. Gang Seok know this?'

That's why he set the contract renewal period to four years, right? Just as she thought this, the door handle of the director's office turned.

There was only one person who could enter without knocking in this Peony Gallery. Seol Yejin straightened her half-leaned back. Kim Yunseo, the secretary of the Peony Gallery, was walking in.

"It's really becoming a hassle to count the number of visitors every day now."

It seems she had just checked how many visitors the Peony Gallery had today to pay Gang Seok's incentives. It was hard to count all at once before closing, so she had been checking a few times a day recently.

"Can't you hire someone?"

"Is that all?"

"Yes, that's all."

Kim Yunseo made a pained expression.

Originally, he would have only become famous among collectors who recognized the value of a new artist's work early on.

But somehow, Gang Seok became a popular hotspot among the general public, gaining popularity from the Renaissance Mall and then, when it went into renovation, attracting many visitors as a substitute.

Counting each one was a job in itself.

"Instead of checking the CCTV later, can't you count as they enter?"

"It's just not reliable."

"Just don't make any counting mistakes. You could put numbers on the guestbook."

That's a good idea, Seol Yejin thought, but Kim Yunseo shook her head again. For Kim Yunseo, it was a rather gentle refusal.

"You can't combine the numbers when different exhibitions are happening, can you?"

Indeed, the Peony Gallery, being one of the largest in Gwanhoon-dong, often held multiple exhibitions simultaneously.

"That's true. But I heard from the master that the Bloom Art Museum has a similar contract... They think it's not a problem."

Can't you do it too?

Seol Yejin looked at Kim Yunseo with a gentle smile, implying this.

"Since it's a reservation system, you can just check the number of reservations for Exhibition Room 4 on the website. Besides, they don't pay incentives based on the number of people but take a commission from ticket sales... And we're a gallery, they're a museum."

"Hmm. Now that you mention it, that's true. But what can we do? We still have over three years before renewal."

You have to do it.

Seol Yejin comforted Kim Yunseo, promising a generous bonus this time.

That's because

The incentive contract for the sculpture had a renewal period of four years. There was still a long time left.

"Ugh."

Kim Yunseo made a face as if she was about to hand in her resignation. Seol Yejin, not wanting to face this, bit the strawberry-flavored lollipop. Honestly, Seol Yejin was also thinking that she couldn't keep relying on Kim Yunseo like this.

The sculpture would eventually have to be returned to Gang Seok, but the Peony Gallery would continue to hold it.

As Gang Seok became more famous, the number of visitors would increase, and it would be too much for Kim Yunseo to count them all.

With the upcoming art fairs, international trips would also become more frequent... Maybe they really needed to hire someone. She thought this while biting the last piece of the lollipop.

"…I'll think about hiring someone."

"Quit… Yes?"

"I'll think about it."

Seol Yejin said it as if she had made a decision, and Kim Yunseo's eyes widened. Watching Kim Yunseo put the envelope she had taken out back into her jacket, Seol Yejin smiled and turned to the computer monitor.

It was time to get to work.

Even as she said this, Seol Yejin found herself entering Nertube and searching for "Gang Seok" in the search bar. Most of the hateful comments came from Nertube.

Why am I searching for this?

Just as Seol Yejin was about to laugh, something appeared.

"Huh?"

It was Gang Seok.

Gang... Seok? Official? Seol Yejin blinked. Could it be...? No, it couldn't be, but her fingers were already moving the mouse to click on the account.

The channel had only a 16-second black screen video, uploaded today. It was subtle.

Seol Yejin smiled and moved the mouse. With a click, the number of subscribers changed to 14.

Whether it was a joke or real, she liked it.

'If it's real... something interesting might happen soon.'

Seol Yejin's eyes narrowed like a fox's.

* * * *

After-school, the room was bathed in an orange glow as the sunset approached.

Even though it wasn't yet time for the evening lessons, the sculpture studio at Cheonghwa Art High School was brightly lit.

In the sculpture studio, where the smell of wood and clay filled the air, Gang Seok was working on his laptop in the center of the room. One of the students, who had been watching him in a circle, suddenly raised his phone and shouted,

"Hey! Look! Another subscriber just joined!"

"…? Oh, really? Fourteen now?"

"Huh? I haven't clicked yet… So if I click, it'll be fifteen?"

"Click it, click it."

"Wow, it really is fifteen when Young-ho clicks. What… Did some random person just click?"

The students who had been chatting with Jeong Young-ho opened their mouths wide. How could there already be fifteen subscribers with just a 16-second black video? They cheered in joy. Fourteen of the fifteen were from the Buddha statue club or the students' network.

"Seok, what are you going to post next?"

"Right, shouldn't you post something more?"

"Art YouTubers often post 1-minute drawings…"

"Seok, you're good at drawing, so if you post a few of those, the algorithm might pick it up and the views will skyrocket, right?"

The students chattered excitedly. Since Gang Seok had agreed to make a Buddha statue, they had become more familiar and kept talking to him.

Gang Seok, who had been working on his new laptop, quietly closed it.

"That's enough."

With that, he stood up.

The reason he created the channel was purely to promote the Buddha statue. Since he planned to post videos of the statue-making process, he didn't care about subscribers right now.

"Still, it would be easier if you had more subscribers in advance…"

"There's still time."

It was mid-July, and school hadn't even started yet. Gang Seok put the laptop into his bag without hesitation.

Jeong Young-ho, surprised by this, asked,

"Leaving already? At least have some food."

The students, tired of the school cafeteria, had ordered tteokbokki. Jeong Young-ho's intention to reduce the awkwardness was clear.

It wasn't that he disliked the idea.

Gang Seok looked at his phone screen.

It was already evening.

"I can't today. I promised my family I'd go home early."

"Promise…? What's up?"

Gang Seok nodded and slung his bag over his shoulder. Looking at the disappointed faces of the students, he said,

"It's moving day today."

The family had probably already started moving. Gang Seok greeted the students, who were staring at him with wide eyes, and turned to leave the studio.

He was in a hurry.

* * * *

The Seongbuk-dong mansion.

Sitting at the dining table in the first floor, Choi Mijeong looked at Min-hyuk and Young-hyuk with a strange expression as they ate the jajangmyeon made by Kang Hyundo.

It was strange to see a professor of linguistics at Korea University and the oldest ornithologist eating jajangmyeon so casually. Choi Mijeong still vividly remembered her father-in-law lying in bed, struggling in the sea of depression, but Young-hyuk was now taking photos with a sunburned face, looking at her.

"What are you not eating?"

Young-hyuk looked at Choi Mijeong with a puzzled expression. Min-hyuk also looked at his wife strangely, concern in his eyes.

"Are you not feeling well?"

Today was the moving day for Kang Hyundo's family. With all the tax issues resolved and the furniture finally ready, they had moved into the Seongbuk-dong house. Choi Mijeong and the others had gathered to help.

Across from Choi Mijeong, Yi Yoonji was wearing rubber gloves and eating jajangmyeon.

Since the last sculpture was delivered, there had been ongoing exchanges, making it natural for her to help.

"Nothing... It just seems like your family has a knack for attracting wealth."

"Hmm?"

Min-hyuk, who had been looking at Choi Mijeong with a puzzled expression, turned his head. Kang Hyundo and Baek Myunghui were still upstairs, moving furniture, and Kang Chae-young was helping with the chores.

Choi Mijeong, following Min-hyuk's gaze, whispered,

"Isn't it? Who would have thought that Seok could create such a great work in such a short time? It might not be long before the owl sculpture is more valuable than this Seongbuk-dong mansion."

"No... He's not thinking about selling it... And it's my father's, not mine."

Eventually, it will all be yours. Choi Mijeong glanced at Min-hyuk with her beautiful eyes. Her mind was calculating rapidly.

There's a reason the rich get richer. Thinking this, Choi Mijeong hummed a tune while twirling the jajangmyeon with her chopsticks.

The doorbell rang.

"It's my brother!"

At the same time, Kang Chae-young quickly came down the stairs. Yi Yoonji, who was watching her, had a blush on her cheeks as she checked her braided hair.

"Brother!"

"What's with the welcome? You know where your room is, right? It's really spacious."

"Is that so?"

As the voice got closer, Yi Yoonji's cheeks turned redder, like an apple. When her face was as red as a tomato, hiding behind Min-hyuk, Gang Seok entered the house.

"Grandfather."

Gang Seok greeted Young-hyuk, who was quietly scraping the jajangmyeon sauce with radish pickles. Young-hyuk nodded, welcoming him.

"The sculptor has arrived."

"Hello, Professor."

"It's been a while."

With the growing relationship, Professor Min-hyuk had become more casual with Gang Seok. After exchanging glances with Gang Seok, who and Choi Mijeong had nodded at each other, Yi Yoonji shyly peeked out and greeted them.

At that moment,

"Son!"

"Seok!"

Baek Myunghui and Kang Hyundo came down the stairs with bright faces.

"Are you hungry?"

"I'm fine... But..."

"We ordered bibimbap for you. Eat quickly, okay?"

Baek Myunghui quickly went into the kitchen, and Gang Seok, unable to resist, followed her.

.

.

.

"You're doing Nertube?"

"Nertube?"

Gang Seok nodded, having put bibimbap in his mouth. Kang Hyundo and Baek Myunghui looked at each other in surprise. They had heard that artists were doing Instagram and Nertube these days, but they didn't expect Gang Seok to join the trend.

While chewing his bibimbap and explaining that he was doing it for promotion while making the Buddha statue, Gang Seok's phone was suddenly shown to him by Kang Chae-young.

"Already created a channel? Is this right?"

The number of subscribers had already increased to 38. Had he asked his