Chapter 60
Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Painter Oh Sangmun
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After getting off the train and taking a taxi for about thirty minutes, we finally arrived at the art museum.
"Thank you."
*Click.*
After thanking the taxi driver and stepping out, what greeted us was a vast parking lot.
"Wow! Daddy, this place is huge!"
"Yeah, it's bigger than I thought."
Director Go had said we'd be surprised by how large the Daegu Art Museum was, and she was right.
Maybe because it was at the foot of a mountain, the grounds were incredibly spacious.
We had to walk quite a distance from where we'd gotten out just to reach the museum itself.
The parking lot alone could probably hold hundreds of cars at once.
'They even hold weddings here, it looks like.'
As I walked, scanning the banners strung up here and there, Daeun asked,
"Daddy, are the paintings here?"
"Yeah, that's right. See over there?"
I pointed toward the museum building at the base of the mountain.
"We'll be able to see the artwork inside that building."
From what I'd heard, the artist was pretty famous.
'Come to think of it, it's kind of amazing.'
How exactly had Director Go met people like this and built these connections?
She already seemed plenty busy managing her own gallery.
When I thought about it that way, she really was someone who loved her work.
"Daeuni wants to go fast! Daeuni meet paintings now!"
"Alright, alright. Let's hurry up and check it out."
"Okay!"
With that, I quickened my pace toward the museum building.
By the time we got there, a good crowd had already gathered out front.
An employee who looked like staff was addressing them with some information.
"Alright, in a little bit, there will be an artist talk and tea time with Painter Oh Sangmun. We hope everyone joins in."
An artist talk combined with tea time.
It seemed like they were gathering the visitors so Painter Oh Sangmun could speak directly.
At that moment, having heard the announcement, Daeun looked up curiously and asked,
"Daddy, what's tea time?"
"Tea time? Oh, it just means time to have some tea. Like, the artist gathers the guests and chats with them."
The reason for these events was simple enough.
As the staff had said, it was partly to explain the works, but it was also pretty much the only chance for the artist to meet the people who'd come to see their art.
It might even be the easiest way for an artist to get feedback.
'Though most don't usually do them.'
Artists each have their own personalities. Maybe today's star, Painter Oh Sangmun, was the type who enjoyed it.
With that in mind, I said to Daeun,
"Should we go ahead and look around first, then?"
"Yeah!"
There was still a little time before the artist talk.
So Daeun and I decided to explore the museum first.
The exterior was spacious, and the interior was no less impressive. To see everything, we'd have to keep moving.
*Swish.*
"Could I see your tickets?"
"Oh, sure. Here you go."
As I thought that, I showed my ticket to the ticket counter staff.
"Ah, did you receive a direct invitation from the artist?"
"Oh."
It was also the reason Director Go had sent us here.
There must've been some special mark on the ticket.
"Yes, that's right."
"The artist specifically said to bring any guests straight to him right away. Just a moment. I'll assign a staff member to escort you directly."
"Right—right now?"
I hadn't expected such a warm welcome.
Maybe Director Go hadn't mentioned sending someone in her place? Right then,
"Would you follow me, please?"
Daeun tensed up a bit at the staff member's words and grabbed my hand.
Smiling at her reaction, I asked,
"Why are you nervous?"
*Nod.*
She'd been all smiles until now—what was there to be nervous about?
"No need to worry. Director Go said he's an old friend, so he's sure to be a nice guy."
"Really?"
"Of course."
Hearing that Director Go was a friend must've reassured her.
Daeun's expression relaxed.
"Shall we go, then?"
"Yeah!"
*Smile.*
"Right this way, please."
We followed the staff member into the museum.
Lots of people were already admiring the artwork, and we wove through them into a large atrium.
'Whoa, it's huge.'
The ceiling looked at least ten meters high, and with glass walls on all sides, it felt incredibly open.
At the far end, there was a separate area set aside for the artist.
"This way."
I could see why they needed a guide.
*Click.*
Just as we arrived, the door opened as if they'd been waiting, and two people stepped out.
"Thank you so much for coming."
"Oh, come on. An exhibition by Painter Oh? Of course I had to come."
"I'm always grateful for your support. I'll contact you later."
"Yes, no need to see me out. Call when you're done with everything."
"Sure."
An elderly man with long white hair pulled back tightly in a ponytail.
'That must be Painter Oh Sangmun.'
It was clearly just a routine greeting, but for some reason, it felt intensely formal.
Polite words with a forced smile, maybe.
He didn't seem all that pleased.
*Swish.*
Once the pleasantries ended and the guest departed, Painter Oh Sangmun let out a short sigh and turned back toward his office.
"Painter Oh."
He stopped in his tracks at the staff member's call.
"Yes? What is it?"
He turned his gaze toward us, standing behind the staff.
"Th-the guests you mentioned have arrived."
"Guests? Who..."
Of course he wouldn't recognize us strangers. But then it seemed to click.
"Ah!"
He said,
"Ah, are you the ones Director Go Yunmi sent?"
How many people could address Director Go so casually?
It was a simple form of address, but it told me everything about his relationship with her.
*Swish.*
"Hello. Director Go Yunmi sent us."
"Oh, hi! I'm Daeuni. I'm Daeun, and I came to see the paintings today!"
At our greetings, he approached with somewhat exaggerated gestures.
"Oh my, welcome! Come on in. Director Go mentioned sending some people, and I was so surprised."
Surprised, huh?
"Come in, come in. I heard I had to prepare chocolate milk no matter what, so I stocked up on the good stuff."
"Chocolate milk!"
Daeun jumped with excitement at the words.
"Daeuni loves chocolate milk! How did you know, mister?"
She looked so happy that they'd nailed her favorite kind.
And Painter Oh Sangmun, watching her, looked pretty happy himself.
*Smile.*
"Shall we go in?"
"Oh, yes."
I couldn't help but be astonished by the room we entered following the artist.
"Daddy, look at this place!"
"This room itself is a work of art."
The space was part of a spatial art installation.
Colorful and vibrant, it felt like stepping into a solo show by one of my old mentors.
"I had no idea you'd turn the space you're in into artwork itself."
"Oh, really? It's just a temporary spot since there's nowhere else. No big meaning to it. I'll reveal it properly during the tea time soon."
As he said that, he came back from the inner room with a pack of chocolate milk.
"Here, have some."
"Thank you!"
Had Director Go given him a heads-up?
It was exactly the brand Daeun loved most.
"You must be tired from the trip."
"No, not at all. Coming with Daeun actually made it fun."
"I was worried Daegu was farther than expected, but I'm glad you enjoyed it."
It was ordinary chit-chat, but somehow the atmosphere felt completely different from his earlier conversation.
"I had no idea there was such a great art museum in Daegu."
"Isn't it? If I'd known about a place like this, I would've held an exhibition here ages ago. Kind of regretting only doing it now. Great mountain views, nice water. Oh! If you head over that way, there's the World Cup Stadium. Lots of people come for outings. Check it out after the museum."
"Yes, thank you."
"And this is random, but Daegu's food scene is killer. Tons of great restaurants. If you're staying overnight, I could recommend some."
"Oh, Director Go already booked us a place, so we'll crash here for the night."
"Nice! Then let me suggest a few spots. What does Daeun like..."
Hahaha.
Where had that formal Painter Oh from before gone?
Why had someone who could chat so cheerfully treated his guest so stiffly earlier?
Questions flooded my mind.
"The fried chicken's amazing, and makchang too! Oh, maybe Daeun can't handle makchang, haha! And..."
Suddenly, Painter Oh trailed off.
He glanced at me cautiously and asked,
"Oh dear, look at me going on."
"No, not at all."
"Sigh, Director Go will scold me if she hears this. She nags me nonstop to talk less. You'd think she was my mom."
That made me curious all of a sudden.
Just what was the deal between Painter Oh Sangmun and Director Go Yunmi?
But it wasn't something I could just blurt out.
"Director Go must nag a lot."
"Ugh, don't get me started. She's all stoic usually, but she lets me have it whenever she sees me. Ugh."
He shuddered, as if picturing Director Go scolding him.
Daeun, slurping her chocolate milk, laughed at the sight.
"Director Go nags a lot?"
"Has she ever nagged you, Daeun?"
*Shake, shake.*
"No! Director Go never nags Daeuni! She loves Daeuni a ton!"
Director Go might seem gruff on the outside, but the way she fussed over things showed how much she cared for Daeun.
Daeun must've sensed it instinctively, since she said Director Go loved her.
"Yeah, well, she does kinda dislike me."
Dislikes him?
Painter Oh grinned mischievously and said,
"I've done some pretty rotten things to her."
"Rotten things? Mister did bad stuff?"
"Hmm, you could call it bad. She must've had a tough time because of me."
At this point, I had to ask.
What exactly was Painter Oh's relationship with Director Go?
Risking rudeness, I said,
"If it's not too impolite, could I ask how you know Director Go?"
He answered readily enough.
"Oh, it's not impolite at all. You'd figure it out eventually being here anyway. It's all ancient history."
"Mister, are you friends with Director Go?"
"Hmm, we were friends. Not anymore."
Friends, but not anymore?
What kind of answer was that?
Then came Painter Oh's follow-up, and I had to clamp my mouth shut.
"More like her ex-boyfriend."
Haha, Jesus...