Chapter 93

93

* * * *

“Those who knew him all knew.”

According to Benedetto Varchi (1503-1565), in the eulogy for Michelangelo, it is said that there was such content:

“Michelangelo, from the time he began writing the alphabet on a slate as a baby, wrote differently from other children. He used a stick to trace the shapes instead of writing them.”

It is also said that:

“...Michelangelo preferred going to the church to draw pictures over going to school to learn grammar. Michelangelo often skipped school to go and look at drawings, and sought out people who drew pictures more than those who studied.”

Just by hearing this, one can tell that Michelangelo showed exceptional talent in art from a young age. If he hadn't been a rather diligent student, what would have happened?

His life's path was already foreseen in his childhood.

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

* * * *

Fresco is on a stone wall.

After applying a mixture of water, lime, and volcanic ash (brown volcanic ash) in varying ratios three times, using the concepts of arriccio, intonaco, and giornata.

While the fresh plaster is still wet, the technique involves drawing on the wall with pigments dissolved in water.

When the wall dries, the pigments are completely absorbed, becoming part of the wall and hardening together.

If the painting successfully and completely solidifies without any issues, it shares a long life with the wall until it collapses, which is why this technique was highly favored in the past.

This is fresco.

And the sketch that Kang Seok is now drawing on this white paper can be seen as the design to be engraved on the plaster for the fresco.

Simone Casani quietly observed the picture Kang Seok was drawing on what looked like a white canvas.

He kept his mouth tightly shut, worried that he might disturb him.

‘Even if I did disturb him, he probably wouldn’t even look at me...’

Simone Casani tore his gaze away from the picture and looked at Kang Seok.

Kang Seok was looking at a white sheet of paper cut to the size of the wall where he would paint the fresco.

It was hard to believe that he had almost immediately entered a state of complete concentration after attaching the white sheet to the wall. His fixed, dark brown eyes followed the white pencil as it moved across the paper, as if nothing else existed.

The gray lines extended smoothly, expressing the height of the waves and the fine foam breaking on top of them.

‘It’s a perfect wave to ride... why is he drawing it down there?’

Kang Seok was drawing while kneeling.

Despite the obviously uncomfortable position, the drawing continued without a single waver. The gray lines drawn by Kang Seok’s pencil were neither thick nor thin, and the precision of his control was remarkable, making it impossible to tell where he resumed drawing after the pencil inevitably lifted from the paper.

Kang Seok moved the pencil in silence, his mouth set in a straight line.

‘At first, I thought he bought the building just to paint murals, wondering if he was a billionaire who could scatter money on the ground...’

Casani, resting his chin in his hand, recalled a few days ago.

Kang Seok’s creations, the ink and dip pen set, and now the sketch on this white canvas... even though he didn’t want to admit it, he had to.

‘I seem to be involved with a real genius I’ve never seen in my life.’

How did he end up becoming acquainted with a genius?

While it was surprising to meet someone he thought he would never have a connection with, there was a tingling feeling in his heart, knowing he was sharing this great moment.

At that moment.

Creak, something opened, and Casani’s head turned to follow the sound. There was Jin Yumi.

Jin Yumi.

She was the Bloom Art Museum staff member he had seen at the booth, currently on a business trip and acting as Kang Seok’s secretary.

She put her index finger to her lips, lifted her heels, and walked slowly, worried that she might break Kang Seok’s concentration. Her cautious approach was oddly endearing.

As she watched, Jin Yumi had already come close to Casani, breathing silently.

Kang Seok’s hand was still moving.

Rustle, rustle.

The sound of the graphite being drawn on the paper against the wall.

The long, sharpened pencil, with a graphite core at least 9 cm long, moved in a semicircle on the paper.

Gradually, Kang Seok’s hand moved upward on the paper.

Without using an eraser or drawing a single proportional line, the gray lines moved across the white paper without hesitation, showing no signs of doubt.

The lines were drawn as if a beam projector were casting them on the paper. They were not rough, but precise and thin, making it difficult for others to even trace over them.

How long had Casani and Jin Yumi been lost in the drawing?

A muscular, half-naked man riding the waves was being drawn on the paper.

The man’s muscles, standing barefoot on the waves as if surfing, were tense, conveying a sense of tension and instability that could not be conveyed by the sketch alone.

Jin Yumi thought she could feel the rough and intense nature characteristic of Hellenism in the sketch.

As she had felt from the exhibition in Room 4, which she saw every day, Kang Seok’s knowledge and interest in male anatomy, especially muscles, were extraordinary.

It was beautiful.

The muscles, intricately and finely woven like a pattern in fabric, gave the static image a sense of dynamism.

“...Good.”

“(Beautiful.)”

Jin Yumi and Casani murmured almost simultaneously.

Especially as a curator, Jin Yumi was disappointed that only she and Casani could see this magnificent sketch. It would have been great if all of Kang Seok’s fans could have seen this scene, even if it was recorded on video. Jin Yumi clicked her tongue in regret.

There was no camera nearby, so it was frustrating to think that this entire scene would not be recorded.

However, there was nothing to say.

Jin Yumi herself had been so engrossed that she hadn’t even recorded a video... it was useless to feel wronged.

Just as she was feeling frustrated.

Kang Seok’s pencil began to draw a long, stick-like object connected to the man’s hand in the drawing.

What is it?

As Casani and Jin Yumi’s eyes narrowed, the large stick-like object gradually took shape.

The intricate and ornate carvings, reminiscent of the delicate Rococo style, were... a spear.

Spear.

The vast sky.

Beneath the sky, waves rising passionately.

And a half-naked, muscular man riding the waves.

The man’s hand holding a magnificent spear.

Jin Yumi and Casani, who had been watching, easily understood what the design represented. As they realized, Kang Seok’s pencil lifted from the canvas.

The design was complete.

.

.

.

In front of the white building.

Kang Seok, Casani, and Jin Yumi were sitting on the stone steps, each holding a large hot dog. The hot dogs were recommended by Casani and bought by Jin Yumi, the curator.

By Korean standards, it was December 22.

While it was cold in Korea, Miami’s beach was maintaining a warm 26 degrees.

After noon, the temperature had risen to 27 or 28 degrees. Feeling the warmth all over his body, Kang Seok took a bite of the hot dog.

Jin Yumi glanced at him.

On the second floor, the completed fresco design.

On the first floor, the raw materials that had already successfully produced over a dozen colors, though still in production.

Lime powder and brown volcanic ash had also been obtained.

Jin Yumi thought to herself as she ate the hot dog.

‘Mr. Kang will probably finish his work here in Miami and return...’

It seemed that way.

Jin Yumi, who had closely observed Kang Seok during the creation of , knew that once he started a serious project, he would focus solely on it, neglecting meals and sleep.

If he was preparing for the work... there was a high probability that he would stay in Miami until it was completed.

Jin Yumi sighed.

To quickly discuss setting up a goods shop inside the building, it would be best if they returned together or if a Bloom representative stayed with Kang Seok... but it turned out that the Bloom Art Museum staff were already fully booked.

‘I’m already fully booked too...’

The Bloom Art Museum seemed free, but it was still a workplace. A free travel schedule for an employee was impossible.

Sigh.

There was no choice.

It was regrettable, but she couldn’t drag an inspired artist back to Korea. She would take care of the accommodation and other necessary matters and return, then send a follow-up team as soon as possible.

That was the best option.

Jin Yumi decided this in her heart and was about to speak.

She needed to ask Kang Seok about the future schedule and explain that the Bloom side had certain commitments and needed to know how to proceed. Her mouth wouldn’t move easily. At that moment.

Kang Seok, who had swallowed a piece of the hot dog, asked with a detached look.

“Shall we go soon?”

“...What? Where to?”

It’s still so bright outside, where are we going? Jin Yumi, who had thought this without realizing it, was startled and looked at Kang Seok. Could he be going back to Korea? Kang Seok, with a look of surprise, asked Jin Yumi.

“Don’t we need to pack up and go to the accommodation if we’re taking a flight tomorrow?”

“...Oh, right. But... are you going?”

“Huh?”

“No, I mean... I thought you were going to finish the work and then return to Korea.”

“Oh, it’s not urgent or anything.”

It wasn’t an urgent project.

Moreover, Kang Seok wasn’t painting the fresco on the white building because someone had suggested or pressured him to do so. It wasn’t a commission, so he wouldn’t receive any payment for it.

First, ...Kang Seok took another bite of the hot dog.

First, he needed to complete the woodcutter in Korea.

‘And...’

Kang Seok looked up at the sky.

He remembered the words his father said when he received the carving wood as a gift at the furniture store.

– ‘I was surprised. You said you could enjoy Christmas and Children’s Day with your dad.’

– ‘It’s a bit late, but it’s a Christmas gift.’

He wanted to spend Christmas with his family if possible.

Kang Seok crumpled the hot dog wrapper and stood up.

He asked Casani if he could look after the building and go surfing while he was away in Korea for a while.

Simone Casani, who had become a fan of Kang Seok without realizing it, readily agreed, saying he would even sign a contract if necessary, as long as he could see the sketches.

He added that he was curious about the finished work and hoped it would be completed soon.

Kang Seok relayed the message to Jin Yumi.

He locked the door of the white building and handed one of the three keys to Casani.

It was time to return to Korea.

* * * *

Gray sky.

Kang Seok put on a padded jacket as the cold breath spread.

As soon as he arrived in Korea, he could feel it was Korea.

Kang Seok pulled his suitcase.

When he went to the airport to