Chapter 80

80

* * * *

Italy is a cultural powerhouse recognized by the world.

Just listing the famous sculptors etched in its history would be enough to acknowledge this.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680), a sculptor of the Baroque era, excelled in depicting sweet and seductive sensuality.

Francesco Queirolo (1704-1762), a sculptor who adorned his works with Rococo techniques, skillfully revealed delicacy and opulence.

Giuseppe Sanmartino (1720-1793), a realist sculptor, achieved a fantastical sense of three-dimensionality and precision.

Giovanni Strazza (1818-1875), a sculptor who, in the modern era, showed astonishing and spine-chilling precision.

Italy is a place where countless sculptors, whose names alone evoke the creation of humans from a single block of marble, have emerged.

Isn't that impressive?

Then, let me share something I heard at a lecture I attended by chance. The speaker at the lecture said this:

If we exaggerate a bit, Michelangelo accounts for 10% of Italy's national wealth.

Let's summarize.

This means that Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti, one of the three great masters of the Renaissance, outshines those renowned artists and attracts tourists, contributing to 10% of Italy's economy.

The speaker proudly said this was the power of culture, but I couldn't help feeling a wall here.

Considering how he outshines all the sculptors who could be described as geniuses, one can't help but wonder how great Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti (1475-1564) must have been.

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

* * * *

“I'm thinking of showing my face overseas soon.”

At Jang Seok's words, Seol Ye-jin stretched out her finger that was holding a lollipop. Her mouth gaped open.

The world.

He was going to go to the world.

That was the story.

Well, I never thought Jang Seok would stay in Korea forever. But I didn't expect him to knock on the door of the international market before he even turned 18.

Has so much time really passed?

It feels like just yesterday I met Jang Seok when he was a pre-senior high school student, and now it's already November... As they say, time flies as you get older, and it really does pass in a blur.

Seol Ye-jin let out a sigh, amazed. In that short moment, the works Jang Seok had created so far flashed through her mind. The last one that came to mind was...

I haven't seen it, but I know it caused a huge stir online with its massive scale.

‘Well... Come to think of it, the one he completed recently is only temporarily on display at Bongeunsa Temple, but he plans to lend it long-term to the White Temple, Wat Rong Khun, in Thailand.’

Jang Seok was already expanding his reach overseas. She couldn't afford to fall behind. Seol Ye-jin firmly reminded herself to stay focused.

‘I had already predicted that it would become increasingly difficult to afford Jang Seok's prices domestically. It's only natural that this would happen. It's not too early or too late, but just the right time. Well, it's fortunate that I found out in advance.’

Seol Ye-jin fiddled with the stick of her lollipop.

A rapid and chaotic plan formed in her mind.

Seol Ye-jin was a woman who could see the big picture.

‘Let's think about it. Jang Seok has mostly proceeded with loans rather than sales of his works. Right. He knows that, no matter how much his works appreciate, they won't exceed their current value. He also has a strong attachment to his works... Given that he is planning a long-term loan to Thailand, the probability of him selling in the future is extremely low.’

Would Jang Seok, who is now planning to show his face overseas, allow someone to buy his work at an art fair?

No.

Seol Ye-jin easily thought that far.

In reality, while art fairs are held with the purpose of sales, symbolic works are often displayed as non-sale items.

Not all works displayed are for sale.

So, it's highly likely that Jang Seok will sell the exhibition rights for the series, just as he did with the previous one.

Yes, that's it. Eureka!

Seol Ye-jin's pink lips curved into a smile, and her eyes softened.

“That's great. Jang Seok will surely make a mark overseas.”

This was sincere.

The Korean art market, which is currently growing, is repeating a precarious tug-of-war.

Art is not seen as art, and value is not seen as value, but rather treated like a kind of stock.

In the case of modern art, which is different from traditional Korean painting, the prices formed in Korea are often strangely undervalued when they go overseas, which is also evidence of the market's bubble.

In the damaged art market, where values are impaired for various reasons such as politics and money laundering, Jang Seok, who has steadily built his value and grown, is a talent who will make a mark overseas.

No.

To be precise, he is bound to make a mark overseas.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“It's genuine. But Jang Seok, do you have no intention of selling the series as well?”

At Seol Ye-jin's question, Jang Seok nodded.

It was a light nod, as if it was only natural.

“Because I don't think there will be anyone who can offer the price I want.”

“Oh? I see.”

Seol Ye-jin gripped the stick of her lollipop.

It was a moment of decision.

“Then, are you thinking of selling the exhibition rights for the loan again this time?”

“Hmm...”

While Jang Seok was considering his answer, Seol Ye-jin maintained a smile and tried her best to grip the stick to hide her tension.

If he answers yes again this time...

The action plan for the upcoming art fair in December by the Peony Gallery would need a complete revision. All budgets would be frozen, and as many sale-ready works as possible would be sold to prepare cash assets. Then, all efforts would be focused on the art fair where Jang Seok's works would be displayed, and the exhibition rights would be purchased at all costs.

This was the blueprint Seol Ye-jin sketched out in that moment.

Even if it meant a loss, it would be worth it.

‘When Jang Seok shows his face overseas, the international media will surely take notice. As interest in Jang Seok increases, attention will naturally turn to his works, most of which are in Korea. This will inevitably draw more visitors to places that own his works.’

The Peony Gallery already owned . If she could successfully purchase the exhibition rights for and the series, it would mean that three of Jang Seok's works would be exclusively displayed at the Peony Gallery.

While it's unlikely that people coming from overseas to Korea would visit only one place, the Peony Gallery would certainly be included in their itinerary.

Seol Ye-jin couldn't hide her smile.

The frequency of visits is directly linked to the desire to purchase works. Since Jang Seok's works are not for sale, it would be easy to guide visitors to recommend other works for purchase.

Seol Ye-jin knew this plan would work, as she had already seen the increased number of visitors and the resulting profitable business due to the display of Jang Seok's works.

‘Good. Now my mind is clear.’

Seol Ye-jin stretched out, as if inviting Jang Seok to speak more freely.

At that moment, Jang Seok's lips slowly moved.

“I'm thinking of selling the exhibition rights for the loan, but not for a long time... It will take some time until the art fair, and even after that, it will take some time during the exhibition... So, maybe two months? I think that's the maximum period.”

“Two months?”

Just two months.

It was quite short.

Recalling that the minimum period was three months in the early days, it was significantly shorter. It was a whole month shorter. Why? Considering the duration of the exhibition, there was no need to set such a short period.

As she thought this, the answer fell into her ears.

“By then, I will have finished my preparations.”

“Preparations?”

Jang Seok nodded with a meaningful smile.

Seol Ye-jin wanted to ask again, but she didn't want to give the impression of prying into the artist's affairs.

So, all she could do was tilt her head in curiosity.

.

.

.

A few days later.

November 9.

Now that the cold was setting in and the sky was clear, the season of autumn leaves was in full swing.

It was still a sunny afternoon.

Just a week before the college entrance exam.

Instead of going to school to prepare for the exam, Jang Sek arrived at the glass studio operated by Jo Dong-beom.

– 'Artist, I have completed the previous work.'

Jang Seok had received the news that the work he had made, as ordered by Seol Ye-jin and Kim Yun-seo, had been successfully moved to the Iteurum Glass Studio.

He would have come later if he had to be at school, but since the school had decided to recognize his attendance even if he didn't come during the exam period, he could enjoy a more free and comfortable final year of high school.

As soon as he heard the news, he could come to the Iteurum Glass Studio.

Creak.

As he opened the door and stepped in, a wave of heat hit him.

After working for a while at the Bloom Art Museum, Yang Seon-gu's hanok, the Seongbuk-dong mansion studio, and most recently at the abandoned building of Yongshin Land, the familiar warmth of the glass studio enveloped him.

It was hot.

In the midst of heading towards winter, it felt like summer here.

Jang Seok took a step forward.

With this level of heat, it was clear that the kiln was open and work was in progress. It reminded him that Jo Dong-beom was not just his self-proclaimed disciple but also a glass studio owner.

As he took a few more steps, he saw Jo Dong-beom's back, who was standing in front of a table piled high with materials like a small mountain, inserting and turning a rod into the kiln.

On the table, which rose like a mountain, were colored glasses that seemed to be failed attempts.

'Hmm.'

As soon as Jang Seok saw the colored glasses, he immediately understood what Jo Dong-beom was trying to do.

'He's attempting a replica.'

Replica.

The act of recreating a completed work by looking at it.

And the subject of Jo Dong-beom's replica attempt was Jang Seok. More specifically, it seemed to be the thousands of butterflies featured in the work Jang Seok had created.

Looking at the table, it was clear that not a single butterfly had been completed, and the task ahead seemed monumental.

He had to distinguish colors that were not easily distinguishable, and he had to organize them in a way that even an ordinary person could see them clearly.

It was a realm of color that required understanding both genius and ordinary talent.

It was not going to be easy.

Jang Seok scratched his temple.

It was a dilemma.

Interrupting him while he was so focused seemed a bit rude... Should he come back later?

Just as he thought this,

"This isn't working... Damn it."

Jo Dong-beom's depressed muttering was accompanied by a sharp sound as the heated glass fell into a bucket of water in the corner. It was a failure.

Jo Dong-beom stared at the water for a moment, then scratched his head and grabbed his knees with both hands. He then stretched out straight, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Ah, let's try again. Let's try again."

As Jo Dong-beom muttered to himself and turned around, his face, which had been gloomy, lit up with excitement, and his eyes widened.

"Master!"

The title "Master" felt warm.

It was like hearing a title from a past life after a long time.

Jang Seok forced a smile and nodded.

"Mr. Jo."

Of course, he couldn't call him a disciple yet... Jang Seok slowly approached.

As Jang Seok got closer to the workspace, Jo Dong-beom scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly. It was clearly an action born out of awkwardness.

"Ha ha, Master. I tried to make a butterfly because it was so captivating... I wanted to show you at least one well-made one, but it's not