Chapter 41 (1) - The Mysterious Art Museum


    Come on, tell me.


    What''s the size of the mural?


    The bigger, the better.


    It will be hard, but murals are expensive.


    I tried to hide my capitalist-ve-like expression as much as possible while focusing on Minyoung''s lips.


    Minyoung, noticing my intense gaze, meets my eyes and smiles.


    I think I should apologize first for testing Mr. Ban, the painter, in that way.


    Testing? Oh, the portrait.


    Its fine. Who else can I me for my underdeveloped career?


    Minyoung rested her chin on her hand and said,


    Well, thats true. You might have felt bad about it, but actually, our group conducted a background check on you.


    A background check, huh?


    Well, isnt that obvious? As a client, its normal to know who youre contracting with.


    Minyoung continued,


    To be honest, I was shocked by Monicas portrait. It wasnt just about beautifully depicting the current appearance but showing the future and uplifting the ambition. It broke my fixed notion about portraits.


    Honestly, if I hadnt met the teacher at that strange art museum, I would have always drawn nondescript portraits on the streets of Ikseon-dong, as close to reality as possible, slightly beautified. About 70% of the painting Monica now owns can be credited to the teacher.


    Thats an overstatement, I said.


    Minyoung looked a bit sorry as she spoke,


    But, when we researched you, we couldnt believe you drew that painting.


    Because it''s different from what I''ve drawn so far?


    Monica had doubted it too.


    But I proved it was my painting, and that was that.


    Is that so?


    Minyoung, being a painting major, would know.


    A painters style evolves with the times.


    Honestly, if she wanted to nitpick, I had plenty of excuses.


    But Minyoungs words were far from the excuses I had prepared.


    Minyoung nced at me briefly and then spoke,


    Before working with Monica, your career didnt amount to much. One first prize in apetition, two second ces, twomendations. No solo exhibitions, no coborations with other artists, and no works listed online apart frompetition entries.


    ....................


    That was me, just a few months ago.


    Minyoung continued,


    The most notable part of your career was receiving a schrship for all four years at Daehan Comprehensive Art University.


    ....................


    Frankly, its embarrassing to brag about it, but in college, I was really sessful. Just the fact that I didnt miss out on the four-year schrship had the juniors using my notes as a study guide, and the so-called goddesses of the art department sat next to me in the library asking questions.


    Back then, I thought I would be the most sessful person in the world.


    Once thrown into society, that career became a sandcastle-like achievement, easily crumbled by the simple question: So what? What are you now?


    I wore a self-deprecating smile as Minyoung looked straight at me.


    It was strange. From what I know, students who get schrships in art school usually build other careers through coboration, like taking on part of an art business with a senior already in the workforce or doing art-rted public service work rmended by a professor. But you had none of that.


    I slightly bowed my head.


    I had no choice but to do so.


    Minyoung watched me silently and then said,


    It was because of your mother and brother, wasnt it?


    ....................


    Is this arge corporation?


    They knew all this.


    Well, I did talk to Mrs. Kang about it, but discussing it in rtion to my career means she probably already knew what I was doing while other students were building their careers.


    Minyoung continued,


    You worked in a ce making replica paintings.


    It wasnt illegal.


    I proudly made replicas, creating interior paintings for people to buy and hang in their homes.


    Excuses swirled in my mouth, but strangely, they wouldnte out.


    Minyoung sighed softly and said,


    Replica paintings dont help your career, but they do bring in immediate money. And that money probably went to your mothers house. Thats why there are more gaps in your career.


    Whats most important to survive in the art world is your career.


    Career equals portfolio.


    Potential clients decide tomission me based on my works.


    But I never had time to build a career. I was always in need of immediate money.


    Min-young tapped the table with her fingernails and said,


    "Actually, before investigating up to this point, I thought you were just someone living an ordinary life without passion. Aside frompetitions, you only chose jobs that made immediate money. I thought you were the type who''d be content earning just enough to eat for the day."


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