Van Gogh Reborn!

287

Scoundrel (7)

A little later.

The participants of the joint exhibition of France and Korea at the Venice Biennale gathered in one place.

“Before we start, I would like to thank you all for participating in this joint exhibition. I am Bang Tae-ho, the commissioner and director.”

There was no leisure or smile to be found among the artists who applauded.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The purchase of works was regarded as speculation, and the place for unknown artists became narrower.

The works of celebrities that appeared in the media were traded more valuable than those who worked hard.

Public projects were concentrated on prestigious artists, and artists without fame, connections, or funds felt suffocated.

They had to have a different mindset.

Bang Tae-ho was no different from them, as it was his first international exhibition.

He nodded inwardly as he saw the seriousness on the faces of the artists and began to explain.

“The theme of this Venice Biennale is between.”

Bang Tae-ho showed the document that Ralph Rufus, the director-general of the Venice Biennale, had sent.

Baek Seol-gi wrapped her hand in front of her mouth and chewed on the word ‘between’ written on the screen.

“Through the sentence that distance has widened, and hatred has come instead of rupture, we can see Ralph Rufus’s sense of problem.”

Bang Tae-ho distributed the documents to the artists and continued to explain.

“He is sorry for the reality that the countries, races, and people are separated by various issues. He wants to deeply reflect on what should be placed and excluded between us.”

Baek Seol-gi nodded.

Ralph Rufus did not look at the relationship rupture simply.

While he enjoyed getting closer, he sometimes needed to keep a distance.

He also said that sometimes he had to doubt whether there was unnecessary prejudice between him and the other person.

“Ralph Rufus hopes that the Venice Biennale will be a place where these stories are exchanged.”

The artists accepted the topic that Ralph Rufus suggested in their own way.

“If you look at page 9 of the booklet I just handed out, you can see the exhibition hall that is currently under construction.”

The artists turned the bookshelf at Bang Tae-ho’s guide.

The dome-shaped building was divided into two floors, and the works could be viewed through the space in the middle and the railing along the wall.

“Our country will use the first floor. There was an opinion that it would be nice to decorate the first floor as a beach and the second floor as a sky, but the details will be decided at the second orientation.”

Yoo Ra-im, who participated in the installation section, raised her hand.

“Yes, Yoo Ra-im artist.”

“Will the exhibition location also be decided at the second OT?”

“We will share opinions at the second and make a final decision at the third.”

Bang Tae-ho guided the later work.

It was a schedule to meet in Venice two weeks later and talk with the commissioners and artists of both countries and meet again two weeks later.

The artists seemed to be worried, holding their arms or breathing lightly.

“There are many restrictions, actually.”

Bang Tae-ho came out.

“The topic is clear, too. You may have to compromise in many ways, not only the location you mentioned. It could be size or weight. The sound may also be limited.”

The faces of the installation artists became somewhat gloomy.

“It’s tricky.”

Bang Tae-ho asked with a smile, and the artists who revealed their true feelings laughed softly.

“But I’m proud to have selected someone who will show you a great work under these conditions.”

The artists already knew it.

It was a matter of presenting opinions with their works and proceeding with the story in one discourse.

As long as the commissioner and the art director set the theme, they had to follow their demands.

Bang Tae-ho looked around.

It seemed like there were a lot of curious things.

“Since the story came up, I’ll answer your questions before moving on to the next story.”

They all raised their hands without anything to do. They all laughed softly and the somewhat stiff atmosphere subsided.

“Yoo Ra-im!”

“Hey!”

During the break, Baek Seol-gi approached her college friend Yoo Ra-im with joy.

They recognized each other and exchanged eyes during the orientation, so Yoo Ra-im also smiled and held her hand.

“How long has it been?”

“That’s right. How have you been?”

“Ha. Don’t even say. It was amazing.”

They weren’t close enough to hang out together, but they were happy to see each other after a long time, as they had been active in the same club for a while.

The two took a can of coffee each and exchanged greetings more friendly than in their college days.

“But I was really surprised, you know?”

“What?”

“You.”

“Me?”

“Weren’t you working with Choi Kyu-seo sunbae? You know… the association is not very fond of him.”

Yura-im mumbled.

It was a well-known fact that the Korean Art Association disliked the scoundrel who was involved in the Venice Biennale national exhibition.

“I quit.”

Baek Seol-gi answered with a small smile and Yura-im cheered, waving her hand.

“Good for you. I didn’t understand why you were there anyway.”

Among the seniors, juniors, and peers, many people looked down on Choi Kyu-seo.

Baek Seol-gi felt the same way, so she had nothing to say.

“You always badmouthed him and Mira sunbae, right?”

Baek Seol-gi stared blankly at her friend.

“You didn’t know? Well, I guess you wouldn’t if you did.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Why. You won a prize in a contest held by some construction company a while ago, didn’t you?”

Baek Seol-gi recalled the event from her sophomore year in college.

She had won the grand prize in a nationwide college art contest sponsored by a prominent construction company.

She received 5 million won as a prize money, and the construction company gifted Baek Seol-gi’s work to the apartment residents, which made the news.

It was the first time Baek Seol-gi received recognition from society, and it was also the time when she distanced herself from the people at school.

“Yes.”

“He was spreading nonsense that you wouldn’t have won if you didn’t use your connections. He said he had some insider at the construction company or something.”

Baek Seol-gi’s eyes shook.

She couldn’t believe that the person who started the rumor that tormented her was Choi Kyu-seo.

‘People are like that. They try to drag you down if you’re a little better than them.’

‘You don’t need to hang out with those kids. Do you think you’ll see them after graduation? They’re already talking behind your back.’

‘You said you were looking for a part-time job, right? I’m starting a company, so come if you’re interested. You’ll gain more than being with those kids.’

“People started talking behind your back after you left the club.”

“What did they say?”

“They said that the prize was not legit since you joined Choi Kyu-seo’s company.”

Baek Seol-gi clenched her teeth.

Her fist trembled with anger.

“The funny thing is, he also participated in that contest.”

“What?”

“You know Nari, right?”

She remembered Lee Nari, who entered the same year as her but had a different major.

“Yes.”

“She said she saw him submit his application at the department office. She said if you got the prize because of your connections, why didn’t he get one too. That makes sense, right. Whatever.”

“…Ha.”

Baek Seol-gi felt indignant at the fact that she had been deceived all this time. 𝒻𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝑛ℴ𝑣𝑒𝓁.𝒸ℴ𝘮

She thought she knew Choi Kyu-seo better than anyone else from working with him, but she didn’t know anything.

‘He really has no bottom. Choi Kyu-seo.’

“I’m glad you got out of there. Really.”

Baek Seol-gi turned her head.

“I missed hearing your stories. I thought you would do the best among us.”

She was afraid of other people’s eyes.

She didn’t want to get hurt.

Her old friend, who had distanced herself from her because of Choi Kyu-seo’s harassment, still treated her sincerely.

“But how could no one tell me anything? That’s too much.”

She had no one to confide in.

She had also kept her distance from the people she used to hang out with.

“No. Thank you.”

Baek Seol-gi smiled.

‘Did you want to be the protagonist?’

And she couldn’t forgive Choi Kyu-seo, who had mocked her until the end.

After the orientation, Kim Ji-woo moved to a quiet cafe with Baek Seol-gi.

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Of course.”

Baek Seol-gi gladly handed over her portfolio.

Kim Ji-woo was glad to see what kind of work Baek Seol-gi was doing, since she had been inactive since graduating from college.

“Wow.”

Kim Ji-woo couldn’t help but exclaim as she saw the .

The sensual composition of the two people embracing each other and looking down, and the rough brush strokes that left clear marks were impressive.

“It’s really amazing, isn’t it?”

“Thank you.”

“How did you endure all this time?”

Kim Ji-woo asked sincerely.

As an artist, she would have wanted to show her work to the world, but she wondered how she never came forward.

At the same time, she also intended to find out what had happened between her and Choi Kyuseo.

‘She won’t tell me easily.’

She had to be careful.

If she was still on good terms with Choi Kyuseo, there was no need to say anything, and if they had fallen out, she couldn’t ignore Choi Kyuseo, who dominated the Korean art scene.

She didn’t think she would spill such a sensitive story to someone she met for the first time today.

‘How do I coax her?’

Kim Ji-woo approached cautiously.

“I would be so proud if I were you.”

Kim Ji-woo said casually, and Baek Seolgi smiled.

“I know. I was foolish.”

“I have a real eye for talent. I think you’ll make a big hit this time. Really. Even though I look like this, I’ve discovered a lot of people.”

“I know. Like Hoon.”

“Did you see Hoon’s article too?”

“Of course. You wrote the first one, right? I’m a big fan.”

“Ahahaha.”

Kim Ji-woo felt embarrassed and drank her coffee.

It was rare to meet a reader, and even rarer to remember her name.

And to hear the word ‘fan’ for the first time in her life, she felt strange.

“I read the Damien Carter article too.”

“Oh.”

“It was awesome. I thought undercover reporting was something that only happened in movies.”

“I think I was pretty cool back then too. Haha!”

“Really. You were connected to the Luxury Gallery, Sotheby’s, and Damien Carter.”

Baek Seolgi also took a sip of her coffee and lifted her head.

“Weren’t you scared?”

“I was. I still am.”

Kim Ji-woo quietly grabbed a tissue and started to crumple it.

“Damien Carter and Jay Jopling are in prison, but I don’t know what will happen when they come out. And the sponsors are still there.”

“…”

“But this is my job.”

Kim Ji-woo smiled awkwardly.

She used to lose sleep over the fear of retaliation, and she was still getting psychiatric treatment, but she felt it was something she had to do.

She thought she would regret it for the rest of her life if she ignored the Damien Carter case.

Baek Seolgi looked at Kim Ji-woo again.

She was different from the serious and critical articles and columns she wrote. She seemed a bit restless when she met her in person.

And when she recalled the Damien Carter case, she showed signs of anxiety, tearing up the poor tissue.

But she trusted her attitude of considering the exposure of the corruption in the art world as her own task, even though she was afraid.

She also trusted her ability as a journalist who recorded millions of views.

“In Korea too.”

Kim Ji-woo lifted her head at Baek Seolgi’s words.

“Yes?”

“What would you like to do if there was something similar in Korea?”