while he admits that art has not always been one of his passions, the subject has managed to hold a constant place in his life. a lifetime ago, the serene collaboration of paints brushed into figures hung on the walls of his cage gave him a look of the beauty outside of the rainy town. his mother thought them beautiful, he thought them a short-lived escape.
still, the many facets of art would not equal his love for books until later years. once discovered, however, he plunged head first into its magnificent world. the walls in which he lived became home to numerous paintings of ominous, strange, and overall fascinating qualities alike. and his homes themselves quickly became an homage to literature and art alike, both holding their respective places on shelves and walls.
his apartment in seoul is not one of those homes, rather, it’s taking beginning steps to becoming one. the still great expanse of emptiness on his dark cranberry walls are a sore sight, one he wishes to banish immediately. he’s put off obtaining new artwork for far too long, and he knows exactly who to turn to, to remedy the problem.
cold air and crisp white greet him when he enters the art gallery, a certain man at the back of his mind. other patrons stand scattered around the plain floor, mingling and observing the art hung on the otherwise blank canvas behind them.
his attention wanders to a nearby piece and his feet take languid steps to it. subdued fascination reflects in his eyes as he admires the artwork, his head tilting the slightest bit in concentration. the surrounding world falls to the back of his thoughts for a moment.
it is only when he catches a familiar figure occupying his peripheral vision that he returns, his lips tugging up into a greeting smile, ❛ kwangjo, just the man i was looking for. how’s everything, good i hope. it’s a pity, i can’t even remember the last time we spoke, time passes so quickly, doesn’t it? ❜