Chapter 97

97

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Small things make perfection, and perfection is not a small thing.

– Michelangelo Buonarroti –

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The sky, tinged with the unique gray of winter, was white.

An even whiter sun.

The sculpture of a fairy and a woodcutter, standing against a backdrop of gray stone walls, displayed its white elegance.

In this picturesque scene, like a painting,

There was a swirling mist, as if clouds had been plucked from the sky and placed there.

The three men, gazing at this mystical scene that seemed to emit a sacred aura just by looking at it, thought simultaneously,

How is this possible?

Their minds were filled with astonished curiosity.

What on earth had Kang Seok done to the sculpture this time to make clouds float around the fairy? They wanted to know. With eyes brimming with curiosity, they looked around, searching for Kang Seok.

And in less than a minute, they discovered Kang Seok standing nearby.

Kang Seok looked at Park Seon-woo, Ryu Jeong-hyung, and Jin Do-wook, and smiled faintly. Only Jin Do-wook, who had been watching Kang Seok closely, understood the meaning of that smile.

You find this amusing.

Park Seon-woo, after a moment, realized that Kang Seok was satisfied with his surprise and spoke up.

"Mr. Kang, could you please explain what kind of magic you used here? I can't sleep thinking about how this is possible... Can you tell us?"

Park Seon-woo subtly probed Kang Seok. Ryu Jeong-hyung, though curious himself, gently reprimanded Park Seon-woo, as if it was improper.

"President... This could be the artist's secret. Even if you're curious, it's inappropriate to ask so casually. It could cause controversy later."

"Huh? Is that so? Did I ask an impolite question, Director Jin?"

"......Hmm."

Jin Do-wook, looking at Park Seon-woo, showed a troubled expression.

The director of the Bloom Art Museum was equally curious, but in this case, Ryu Jeong-hyung of the San Gang Cultural Foundation was right.

Jin Do-wook glanced to the side.

Above the majestic sculpture, clouds still swirled around the fairy. How they perfectly enveloped her, flowing in a precise size, was both amazing and a bit frightening, as if nature itself was being manipulated.

'But that's why I can't just ask.'

Just as he was about to tell Park Seon-woo not to pry, Kang Seok spoke up.

"It's fine."

Kang Seok smiled faintly, as if it wasn't a big secret.

Kang Seok, with a calm expression, looked at the fairy sculpture and explained.

"First, the swirling mist is artificial fog produced by an ultrasonic nebulizer. You know those nebulizers used for herbal treatments or children's respiratory illnesses? I modified one of those to create a stage fog machine."

Jin Do-wook, who had raised children, asked in surprise.

"......You mean an ultrasonic medical nebulizer?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Then, Mr. Kang, are you saying this is for therapeutic purposes?"

Traditional medicine?

Jin Do-wook, surprised that Kang Seok had included such therapeutic elements, looked at the fairy sculpture again.

When he inhaled deeply through his nose, he thought he could smell the distinctive scent of herbal medicine.

Seeing Jin Do-wook's actions, Park Seon-woo and Ryu Jeong-hyung also inhaled deeply through their noses.

Kang Seok shook his head, saying it wasn't like that.

"To take care of the medical aspects, there would be too many things to consider. It's just a fog machine inspired by an ultrasonic nebulizer. It wasn't created for any therapeutic purpose. I just made sure it wouldn't harm the human body if exposed to it long-term."

Kang Seok looked at the sculpture.

When he wanted to create a scene with swirling clouds, the only thing he was concerned about was one thing:

Could it be made harmless to the human body?

The reason he thought about this was that the sculpture he created was to be installed in the hotel's hot springs.

He didn't want to introduce any harmful elements to people who came to relax and enjoy the hot springs.

He could have used any artificial fog machine, but he had to consider whether it would cause respiratory issues if people were exposed to it long-term.

Just as he couldn't paint any color he wanted, no matter how beautiful, if it contained toxins, this was something an artist had to be mindful of.

At that moment,

Clap clap clap.

Park Seon-woo clapped his hands.

Ha ha. Park Seon-woo, bursting into a refreshing laugh, clapped his hands and smiled brightly.

"This is really great, isn't it? I didn't think about these details when I was supposed to install it. Mr. Kang, you have great sense and such keen insight... I'm almost embarrassed to accept this. Does Mr. Kang have any other hobbies besides architecture?"

Park Seon-woo's eyes sparkled.

Several copy ideas were already forming in his mind.

Art therapy.

A sculpture that protects health.

A sculpture that makes you healthier the more you look at it.

I should throw a few of these ideas to the copywriter and have them touch it up. Park Seon-woo, thinking of the copywriter who could polish his ideas, walked over to Kang Seok.

'This is really... a great catch.'

Park Seon-woo, a man who seemed carefree,

Uninterested in business battles or politics, content with watching performances and getting free rice cakes.

That was the person he had created.

He was satisfied and had no desire to be greedy.

But to achieve a carefree life like this, it wasn't easy. To live a carefree life, no one could ignore Park Seon-woo, and at the same time, no one could feel threatened by him.

It was a very difficult balance.

'Work must be done well, but it shouldn't affect their business battles.'

That's why Park Seon-woo was focusing on culture. The power of culture, which the first chairman of the San Gang Group had emphasized as something to be handled with great care, was what Park Seon-woo was aiming for.

The San Gang Cultural Foundation.

At first glance, it might seem insignificant for a king to have, but it was a hub through which money flowed to enrich the king. To acquire it, he needed to succeed in the hotel hot spring project.

And now, with Kang Seok's work, it seemed possible.

The building.

And the settlement payments to be made in the future.

All the additional payments to be made, nothing seemed like a waste.

Park Seon-woo, smiling broadly, gently placed his hand on Kang Seok's shoulder. His eyes were calculating, and behind his refreshing smile, a sly mind was at work.

"Mr. Kang, you should be the one running a business, not me. Jeong-hyung, instead of taking me to meet your grandfather or father, we should take Mr. Kang."

"President."

Be careful with your words. Despite Ryu Jeong-hyung's cautious warning, Park Seon-woo couldn't hide his joy and smiled brightly.

"But I'm curious. Where is the ultrasonic nebulizer or fog machine, and how does it only create clouds around the fairy and not touch the woodcutter at all?"

"President..."

Just as Ryu Jeong-hyung was about to interject, Park Seon-woo turned to him with a smile.

"I'm not trying to pry into business secrets, but asking for management purposes. I don't want to hear that the work was damaged due to poor management, Mr. Ryu."

Ryu Jeong-hyung's face showed a moment of realization.

Sculptures, especially marble ones, are easily damaged by environmental factors.

Indeed, when the San Gang Cultural Foundation was actively acquiring art, they brought in marble sculptures from Italy and installed them outdoors in Korea, following the trend at the time.

The result was disastrous.

Within a year, the sculptures developed cracks and pieces fell off, causing controversy. Although it was a long time ago, Ryu Jeong-hyung, who worked at the foundation, still remembered the incident.

Upon investigation,

It was found that compared to Italy, where the weather is mild year-round, Korea's climate, with its rain, snow, and periodic cold spells, was too harsh for marble to withstand.

Moreover, environmental pollution has a significant negative impact on the preservation of artworks and historical sites.

According to one columnist, an expert pointed out that the damage to historical sites and sculptures over the past 50 years has been more severe than the corrosion over the previous 2,400 years.

Displaying works outdoors these days requires a lot of preparation, especially since sculptures, unlike paintings which are mostly displayed indoors, are often exposed to the elements.

'Ah, I see.'

President Park wasn't just asking out of curiosity; it was also important for future maintenance.

Ryu Jeong-hyung's face showed a hint of regret. As a director of the San Gang Cultural Foundation, he had been so engrossed in giving artistic advice to President Park that he hadn't considered the most important aspect of maintenance.

"Ah, I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I know how much you worry, Jeong-hyung. So, Mr. Artist, can you share a little of Mr. Kang's secret with me? If you need to sign a confidentiality agreement, we can do that too."

"It's fine."

But this time, Kang Seok's expression was calm.

It wasn't really a secret. Kang Seok had live-streamed his entire process. If they thought about it, it wouldn't be hard to figure out the secret.

Kang Seok raised his hand.

"President, look here."

Kang Seok pointed to the base of the woodcutter.

Upon closer inspection, there was a pedestal-like structure under the woodcutter's feet, and it was slightly hollowed out, like a storage compartment. Inside this hollow space was the ultrasonic nebulizer.

Only then did the wires connected to the ultrasonic nebulizer become visible.

At the same time, the hose connected to the fog-producing holes of the ultrasonic nebulizer was also visible.

Park Seon-woo bent down to get a better look, and Ryu Jeong-hyung and Director Jin Do-wook followed suit.

As they twisted their bodies to get a better view, they finally saw the hose leading inside the woodcutter sculpture.

"It's not complicated. The hose runs from the woodcutter's hand to the fairy's foot."

The fog emitted from the hose connected to the fairy's foot flowed through the thin channels Kang Seok had drilled into her body. The fog accumulated and was released through small holes Kang Seok had made, creating a cloud-like effect around her wings.

That was the secret of the clouds.

"......Do you see it?"

Kang Seok pointed to various parts of his work as he finished explaining. The three men followed his hand with their eyes.

Tiny, barely noticeable holes were visible.

Fog was slowly seeping out from hidden spaces, not obstructing the appreciation of the work.

Director Jin Do-wook, looking at this, opened his mouth wide.

The explanation was simple, but this was not a simple task.

If Kang Seok was right, it meant he had designed and carved all the grooves and channels from the woodcutter to the fairy.

"Wow......"

How could he drill through paths that were not even visible? How could he do this in a marble sculpture, not even with an AI excavator? How could he create such perfect clouds by drilling inside the marble sculpture?

Director Jin Do-wook recalled the live stream he had watched.

He had wondered why Kang Seok was so meticulous in carving places no one would see.

"This is why......"

This was why.

He knew these small channels would create such delicate clouds, and he had calculated and drilled them accordingly.

"Wow."

Director Jin Do-wook, faced with this unbelievable situation, rubbed his head. His mind was spinning. He thought he had seen an extraordinary work that defied common sense, and now he was seeing a technique that surpassed it.

Who could replicate this even if he explained it? ... Ah, Jin Do-wook finally understood.

He understood why Kang Seok was so open about everything, why he didn't hesitate to share his work process.

No one could replicate it.

Director Jin Do-wook, without realizing it, spoke his thoughts aloud.

"Mr. Kang."

"Yes?"

"......Did you anticipate that no one could replicate it, no matter how much you showed and explained?"

"......Hmm."

Kang Seok looked at Jin Do-wook with his usual expressionless face.

Yes.

He knew.

Kang Seok knew that no one could take his skills, no matter how much he shared. It was a confidence that was almost arrogant.

No, it couldn't be just confidence.

He knew Kang Seok well. Kang Seok was extremely cautious, almost to the point of being a coward, always testing the waters before crossing a bridge.

'But how could he be so confident?'

......Perhaps many people had tried to replicate him.

How many people must have failed in trying to replicate Kang Seok for him to be this confident? How could he be so sure? Kang Seok had been the worst in practical skills until the second semester of his second year in high school. Who was this experienced and skilled artist?

Jin Do-wook was confused.

To Jin Do-wook's muttering, Kang Seok only smiled faintly. Kang Seok waved his hand, saying it wasn't that serious.

"Why go that far? More importantly......No."

Ryu Jeong-hyung and Park Seon-woo, curious about Kang Seok's words, pressed him.

"What?"

"What is it? Are you trying to keep it a secret from me, Mr. Kang?"

"No, that's not it."

Trying to catch up to a place Kang Seok had already surpassed......Kang Seok, organizing his thoughts, turned away.

This captured a beautiful and tragic moment. Kang Seok's faint smile slowly faded. He looked up at the work and quietly said to Park Seon-woo,

"Please take good care of it."

Please protect it from rain and snow. Park Seon-woo, looking into Kang Seok's chestnut eyes, answered as if entranced.

"I will protect it at all costs."

To destroy a national treasure-level sculpture like this would be a disgrace to the name of the San Gang Group. No matter how much money or effort it took, he would protect the work that had captivated him.

Park Seon-woo and Kang Seok made a silent promise in the heart of winter.

.

.

.

After handing over the work to Park Seon-woo,

Kang Seok spent nearly a month resting, going back and forth between the Seongbuk-dong mansion and the glass studio. He didn't go to the glass studio to make anything.

"That's not how you draw. The lines are completely different."

Kang Seok's visits to the glass studio were more about monitoring how diligently Jo Dong-beom was practicing with the teaching materials he had provided.

Jo Dong-beom practiced daily, looking at the peony Kang Seok had drawn, but how could a thick line suddenly become thin? He always struggled, and Kang Seok, noticing this, visited the studio once or twice a week to help him with the difficult parts.

He was grateful for Jo Dong-beom's actions, bringing bread to Yang Seon-gu's hanok every day while Kang Seok was making the sculpture.

However, despite Jo Dong-beom's diligence and perseverance, his progress was slow.

And today was one of those days.

Kang Seok, pedaling his bicycle, felt a pang of sympathy for Jo Dong-beom's lack of progress.

'I want to go to Miami and finish the fresco I left behind, but should I wait until after the graduation ceremony?'

He didn't want to come back until he finished it this time. But the graduation ceremony was in February, and the principal and teachers were urging him to attend. His family was already preparing the clothes for the ceremony.

Seeing his family, who were more excited about his high school graduation than he was, made it hard for him to leave the country. So, while taking a break, he was also helping Jo Dong-beom with his sketches, but he couldn't help but think about it.

What should I do?

Just as Kang Seok was about to pedal again, he suddenly looked up at the sky.

Was it because the night sky was particularly beautiful tonight?

Kang Seok, during his nearly month-long break, faced a desire that was stirring and rising.

It was beautiful but not dazzling.

Looking at the unusually bright but starless night sky, Kang Seok recalled a memory from long ago.

Kang Seok, in his past life, instantly drew thousands of stars he had seen in his eyes into the dark night sky. The sky was dark, but in Kang Seok's imagination, it was the most dazzling.

Suddenly, Kang Seok thought,

He wanted to show this scene to people.

He wanted to sculpt it.

98. 1500, the Year of Jubilee (Holy Year, a year of grace and salvation)