“Reveal the essence of your work right here, right now.”
“…”
That’s how I understood Weiran’s question. I met her gaze for a moment.
‘What’s the point of explaining my work here…?’
“…”
“…”
Weiran didn’t look away. She simply held my gaze with a fox-like smile. Her eyes, filled with curiosity and intrigue, seemed sincere.
‘There’s no way an experienced agency head like her doesn’t understand the context of my work… Is she trying to make me the center of attention in this show? But why? To raise the value of the paintings I’ll be sending?’
In reality, the response to Weiran’s question, a question from a “New Yorker” in the business, was far greater than anything I, a mere “foreigner,” could have sparked.
The top artists,
The biggest figures in the New York art world,
Even those who had no interest in art at all
They were all watching me now.
As if they had been curious about my artistic intentions from the start.
Their eyes sparkled, waiting for my answer.
A kid who could have been just another disposable gossip topic of the show had, in an instant, become a noteworthy artist.
The timing of Weiran’s question perfectly orchestrated alongside Jayden was almost terrifying.
‘And that piercing gaze… I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before. But I can’t remember.’
Well.
That wasn’t important right now.
I pushed aside unnecessary thoughts.
Then, choosing my words carefully in my mind, I deliberately delayed my response with a smile.
Since this was a show watched by countless people, I wanted to be careful with my answer.
“…That’s a really great question.”
“…”
Jayden seemed to have caught on to the subtle delay in my response. He suddenly cracked a joke and inserted himself into the conversation.
“Haha! What a beautiful exchange between an artist and an art entrepreneur. As a layman, the only theory I’ve heard is that ‘Eastern magic is brainwashing people.’ So, did you actually cast some wicked ‘Eastern magic’ on TV?”
He wiggled his fingers and shrugged. The audience burst into laughter at his ridiculous remark.
—Hahaha!
—Wahaha!
While the audience laughed for a few seconds, I finished formulating my response to Weiran’s question.
Jayden caught my expression and gave me a small signal with his eyes.
—Are you done thinking?
“!”
‘So, he bought me time to think, and now he expects an entertaining answer.
Why does this talk show feel like a high-society gathering?
Well, I guess that’s why he’s known as the best MC in the world.’
I gave him a slight nod in acknowledgment.
Jayden then casually spoke up.
“…I apologize for my silly question. Let’s bring the topic back to Ellen’s question, shall we?”
“Yes, the interpretation of ‘Eastern magic’ was very interesting. I actually quite liked it. Mr. Johnson’s question was a good one as well. But unfortunately, I’m still too young to use magic. I couldn’t quite weave it into my work yet.”
“I like your humble attitude. I suppose we should be careful with the works left behind by the old Eastern masters from now on.”
—Hahaha!
I moved past the audience’s reaction and looked at Weiran again. She was still smiling like a fox.
I answered her.
“As someone simply living in the present, I wanted to talk about ‘now.’ Whether it’s an old TV or a new one, it’s the information that breathes inside it that matters. The important thing isn’t the TV itself it’s the stories unfolding within it.”
Weiran spoke.
“Then are you saying your work is more about content and information delivery? Like fragmented bits of data, broken down into 15-second pieces for easy digestion?”
“No. It’s about the way we consume it.”
“The way we consume it?”
“Fifteen seconds it’s an incredibly short time. It can pass by without meaning, just another fleeting action. Even now, it’s flowing by. We are living through these tiny 15-second moments right this very second.”
“…”
I glanced at the crowd, their expressions a mix of curiosity and contemplation.
“But for us to reach this 15-second moment where we recognize each other, we’ve each traveled through different times and spaces.”
They held their breath, eyes locked on me.
“Fifteen seconds can be a part of life, a fragment of thought, even a piece of the soul. Looking back on each brief yet intense moment, we experience something incredibly powerful. Just the awareness of a single short-lived instant can make us feel that someone exists.”
“But… isn’t 15 seconds too short?”
I shook my head.
“Andy Warhol once said, ‘In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.’ But I think that’s because he never got to see the modern world. In reality, it’s getting even shorter. Before a single commercial ends, before a song even finishes… If someone is remembered in another’s mind for just 15 seconds, they can exist more vividly than anything else.”
“So, are you criticizing the fleeting nature of media in today’s society?”
“It could be criticism. Or it might not be.”
“…”
Weiran narrowed her eyes. With her fox-like gaze, the way she stared felt slightly terrifying. Then, in a weighty voice, she spoke.
“…That doesn’t sound like a very responsible statement.”
“The nature of any phenomenon is bound to have two sides. Just like how you can’t paint without both light and shadow, I’m not here to say what’s right or wrong. I just want to point out that this nature exists.”
“Then what other aspect is there? What hidden quality lies within the lightness of media?”
“Chance. Diversity. Collectiveness. There are many ways to describe it… but I’d like to call it ‘encounter.’”
“Encounter? That’s an interesting choice of words.”
Weiran’s smile returned. But the image of her previous sharp gaze lingered, making it hard to meet her eyes for long.
‘…This woman is seriously scary to look at.’
I pretended not to notice and answered.
“Fifteen seconds, as I said, is an incredibly short time. It’s not even enough for a single letter, a single painting, or a single note of a song. But in modern society, we can pack an immense amount of information into just 15 seconds. That’s why we can exchange information about each other in such a short time.
With just 15 seconds of attention, we can begin to know one another. Different languages, different races, different countries… Two people who were never supposed to meet can encounter each other and exist in each other’s worlds.”
“…”
“In this era, we can spend 15 seconds to learn about someone to understand them. It’s a fascinating, intense time, yet at the same time, fleeting and weightless. That intensity can blind us, trapping us in simple hatred or blind faith. But like the flickering glow of a lightbulb, we exist within those 15 seconds.”
I turned to face everyone.
“Fifteen seconds is a new way for humans to exist. As someone living in the ‘now,’ I wanted to talk about that. Even if one side of its nature is overinterpreted… someone needs to bring it into the conversation.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
When I finished speaking,
a heavy silence settled over the studio.
Everyone was staring at me, their gazes piercing.
“…”
“…”
“…”
After a brief pause,
Weiran smiled then began clapping.
—Clap. Clap, clap…!
“!”
“!”
Only then did the guests start applauding as well.
—Clap, clap, clap, clap!
Jayden shook his head in disbelief as he joined in.
“Damn! That was an unbelievable speech!”
—Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!
The entire audience rose from their seats. Standing, they gave a roaring round of applause. Even Jung-ju, from the shadows of the studio, was clapping.
—Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!!
The sound of applause filled the entire studio.
I bowed my head to those who had listened to me until the end.
“…Thank you.”
As I placed my hands on my knees, I felt an overwhelming dampness. When I lifted my palms, I saw they were drenched in sweat. And the slight tremble in my fingers undeniable proof of my nerves.
‘But… I did it.’
I let out a slow breath, feeling a wave of relief wash over me.
*
The episode was broadcast after undergoing editing.
A close-up shot focuses on the face of an East Asian girl. Her gaze, glittering as if holding the universe within her eyes, delivers an intense appeal.
The intelligence reflected in the eyes of this elementary school-aged child captivates the audience. Accompanied by a grand song reminiscent of wandering through a vast wilderness,
her speech comes to an end.
“Fifteen seconds this is the way humans exist.”
The adults, overwhelmed by her words, rise to their feet and erupt into thunderous applause.
-Clap clap clap!
-Clap clap clap!
-Clap clap clap!
The girl responds with a graceful bow.
She was, in every sense, the perfect genius people had dreamed of. The episode aired in the United States to a sensational response.
Naturally, the broadcast also reached Korean television networks.
A Korean Broadcasting Station.
The producers who watched the episode dropped the paper cups they were holding.
-Clatter!
“…”
“…”
“…”
Even as coffee trickled onto the floor,
no one thought to point it out.
“…”
“…”
“…”
Mouths agape,
they could only utter a single phrase.
“……A-amazing.”
The episode was translated and edited for broadcast in Korea.
And just as they had predicted, it became an explosive hit.
-What?! Our Go Hana made a massive impact on the world’s biggest talk show-?!
The moment it aired, every network scrambled to produce special documentaries, and the edited version of The Jaden Johnson Night Show was replayed countless times.
Soon, many sought to capitalize on the Go Hana phenomenon.
-Go Hana special exhibition opening
-Go Hana exclusive merchandise planning
-Go Hana…
-Go Hana…
Internet articles and newspaper headlines all clamored about the legendary broadcast of the genius girl.
Frothing at the mouth, they spoke of nothing but her.
-We need to establish the Go Hana Museum!
-Seoul should declare a special Go Hana district!
-Universities must award Go Hana honorary degrees!
-The Republic of Korea should appoint Go Hana as Minister of Culture!
-The Hanul Foundation must immediately name Go Hana as an honorary chairperson!
It was borderline delirium, a near-mindless frenzy.
What had driven them to this state was a drug known as nationalistic euphoria.
And so, on the other side of the world completely unbeknownst to Go Hana
a grand festival, fueled by patriotic intoxication, was in full swing.
*
“….”
Another weekend arrived for John, an ordinary New Yorker.
He put on his comfortable shoes, preparing for a walk.
When he stepped out of his old apartment, the familiar sight of a typical New York street unfolded before him.
Countless people passed by, each engaged in their own conversations.
– Hey, about that new diet product…
– I decided to date Jamie. Man, she’s got an amazing figure.
– The end! The end is near!
– I told you to hold onto that stock, didn’t I?!
“….”
John walked through the streets absentmindedly.
‘Where should I go today?’
“…”
But he couldn’t walk any further.
Something was weighing on his mind.
For the past few weeks, his thoughts had been consumed by a certain artwork tucked away in the corner of the modern art fair and the old man he had seen standing before it.
It had been a long time since something had made him feel that way while living in a foreign city.
‘I should have said something back then.’
“…”
He turned his head slightly.
The subway entrance came into view.
“…”
In the end, John headed for the subway.
‘One last time… Just one more time, and I’ll let it go.’
When he arrived at the convention center, he was met with a massive crowd.
Even the path leading to the entrance was completely packed with people.
– Is this the one that was featured on the show?
– Wow… There are so many people. You can’t even step forward.
– I heard it takes nearly ten hours to get in.
– Even the police are here to control the crowd.
John frowned slightly.
‘This is insane. It was so empty when I was here. What was it they said about it going viral on some show?’
Even his coworkers who normally had no interest in art had been talking about this exhibition.
“…This isn’t going to work.”
After a brief hesitation, he quickly gave up.
His time was too valuable to waste on an uncertain reunion.
‘Well… At least my place is only 15 minutes away by subway.’
Just as he turned to leave the crowd behind…
A familiar voice reached his ears.
“This is ridiculous… I can’t even get through with all these people.”
“!”
John quickly looked to his side.
There, wearing a troubled expression, was the old man he had been thinking about.
“…It’s been a while.”
“Hmm? Oh! It’s you.”
The old man greeted him warmly with a handshake.
“I’ve spent the past few weeks killing time watching videos of people falling over. But if I can’t even get inside, this is a real problem.”
“The TV was huge and super clear. Every time a cat video came on, I was amazed.”
“Right, right.”
John felt an odd sense of relief a kind of kinship.
The old man started talking about himself.
“I take walks around here often since I live nearby. You don’t seem like someone from this area, though. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in all these years.”
“I live just 15 minutes away, in Brooklyn.”
“My goodness, just 15 minutes away, and we almost never met. That’s the mystery of New York for you.”
John smiled brightly.
“I’m John Taylor.”
“Call me Emil, young man.”
The old man grinned playfully.
“I ended up buying that TV, by the way. Nothing beats it for watching baseball games.”
“Really?”
And so, the two walked side by side, chatting.
Though their first meeting had only lasted 15 seconds, their conversation this time went on for much longer.