I stood in the Hanul Middle School staff room.
In front of me sat Ms. Lee Nahyun, the homeroom teacher for the second-year middle school art class.
In her hands was the project exhibition application form I had just submitted. Because exhibitions requiring large display spaces needed a separate application, this form was necessary.
Ms. Lee tilted her head slightly, as if puzzled.
“…Hmm.”
[Project Exhibition Application Form]
– Club: Manga Research Club
– Participants: Go Hana, Yoo Mija, Oh Juri
– Title of Work: Virtual Persona Roleplay (working title)
– Format: Digital Art, Installation Art
“So, you suddenly want to try digital media art…?”
“Yes.”
“Why…?”
“…”
“Weren’t you aiming for Western painting from the start? With your previous exhibition experience and the body of work you’ve already built, I was sure you’d go that route.”
“…”
Her tone wasn’t one of scolding an immature kid, nor was it giving advice as an elder. It was simply pure curiosity from someone working in the art industry, which made her question hit me even harder.
I understood.
This was basically a deviation.
‘From the outside, it probably looks like a sudden genre drift.’
To the public, Go Hana was seen as a “genius of painting”—a prodigy who had mastered the basics at a young age and further delivered profound messages through fine art.
And now, a sudden change in genre.
On top of that, what I was attempting this time was complex art that combined subculture and media art. The concept itself was a cutting-edge, unfamiliar one.
The shift in genre wasn’t just abrupt—it was a full-on sprint.
‘Considering how conservative fine art creators can be, what I’m doing might really look like teenage rebellion…’
The silver lining was that Ms. Lee, my homeroom teacher, had a background in visual design. She was familiar with this kind of digital work.
It seemed that her question came from genuine curiosity.
Feeling a mix of relief and anxiety, I prepared to answer.
The script I had prepared over the past few days.
The persuasion to explain the concept of “VTubers.”
“I believe one of the goals of contemporary art is communication with the audience.
So, I wanted to use this opportunity to create a piece where interaction between the artist and the audience happens in both directions.
I also wanted to show that the concept of ‘fusion,’ as discussed in postmodernism, can apply to the realms of emotion and digital media.”
Ms. Lee’s eyes sparkled as she responded.
“Communication based on painting doesn’t necessarily have to be one-way, though, does it?
I think when an artist places their work for others to view, it creates a space where different perspectives and interpretations intersect, and that’s already a form of two-way communication!
Even Andy Warhol, a master of conceptual art and pop art, emphasized the value of the museum as a communication space itself.
I think flat paintings can sufficiently approach that concept. But your perspective is a bit different, huh?”
“…”
Ahhh, she’s strong…! Is this the rhetorical power of the teaching staff at Korea’s top academy for gifted students?!
‘Did I accidentally awaken the artist inside my teacher by sharing my lofty ambitions? She already talks a lot as it is, and now I’ve pressed the wrong button…’
Ms. Lee Nahyun was now fully in discussion mode.
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she waited for my response. I wiped the sweat forming on my brow and answered carefully.
“Of course, emotional exchange through painting can definitely be a subject worth exploring. However, I wanted to focus on emotional exchanges mediated by digital platforms, especially as we approach the media era of the future.”
“Oh-ho.”
“Rather than sticking only to what I’m already good at and walking the safe path, I wanted to choose a topic that, while a bit unstable, connects more deeply with modern society.”
“Oh-ho-ho…”
Ms. Lee nodded in admiration.
“I see. So, it’s a topic you’ve chosen after careful consideration?”
“Yes.”
“At first, I was puzzled, but now I think I understand. Hana, I was really moved by something you said just now.”
“Um, thank you…”
“What you just said—could you write it down as your project description? It’ll be useful for the faculty meeting when we discuss assigning exhibition spaces.”
“……Okay.”
I typed out what I had just explained on the staff room computer, printed it, and handed it to Ms. Lee.
“Great! I’m so glad there are students like you who are putting so much effort into the exhibition this year.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Students like Yujin from the international program, or even Mari, who’s been a bit reclusive….they both applied for special exhibition spaces for this project exhibition. Their participation even encouraged a few more students to apply. Usually, we only get one or two applications a year, but this year seems particularly active.”
“Oh, Mari… my senior, too.”
“Hmm? Oh right, Hana, you’re close with Mari, aren’t you? You’re in the same club after all.”
“Yes…”
Ms. Lee slapped her forehead, as if a realization had struck her.
“Ah, youth! The exchange of ideas between young, genius artists! Back when I attended Hanul, it wasn’t so easy to find people you could truly connect with, even if we all gathered like this.
That’s why I find you so remarkable, Hana.
Entering this school at such a young age, getting along with your seniors, excelling academically, and winning awards at competitions….You’re such a reliable student from a homeroom teacher’s perspective.”
“Well, I…”
“Oh, look at me. I completely forgot about the faculty meeting while praising you. Hoho.”
“…”
“Well, I’ll make sure to submit this. Good luck with your exhibition preparation, Hana!”
“Thank you.”
Ms. Lee hurriedly grabbed a few more documents and rushed off somewhere. Left behind, I sluggishly made my way out of the middle school staff room and into the hallway.
–Click.
The door opened, and as the warm spring breeze greeted me, I felt my mind clearing up. It was truly the wind of freedom.
Was this relief because I was finally free from Ms. Lee’s chatter?
‘Though this time, Ms. Lee was half-curious and half-intrigued, so it went smoothly. But I bet a few of the more old-fashioned teachers might just lecture me endlessly… That would be exhausting.’
“…”
Sigh.
I felt a wave of fatigue wash over me, making me want to just collapse and sleep.
But unfortunately, I still had a mountain of tasks waiting for me.
‘First, after school, I’ll get vocal training from Juri in the drama and film club’s private practice room.
Then, back at the dorm, I need to work on the illustration for my signboard, Saint Chris.
This weekend, I’ll go with Mija to her dad’s company to get technical advice…’
Also…
Also…
Also…
“…..”
Ah.
I felt like my brain was completely empty. There was so much to do, it was overwhelming.
But since I brought this on myself, there was no one I could complain to.
Sigh…
‘Who knew doing something totally unfamiliar would be this exhausting? Running around asking questions, persuading people, and still, there’s no end in sight. And I’m not even sure if this will work out.’
Thankfully, with the experience from my past life and advice from my talented friends, I could move forward one step at a time.
Right now, even the futuristic project—[Virtual Persona Girl Chris Roleplay Plan]—was steadily progressing.
Anyway, from the moment I took the first step,
I just kept moving forward.
“…”
There’s no turning back now.
I had to create something, in some form or another.
“…Hoo.”
Rotating my shoulders, I headed toward Juri.
She was waiting in the private practice room, dressed in her gym clothes.
I went to the changing room, switched into gym clothes, and spent time practicing vocal lines.
Vocal training turned out to be surprisingly tough.
It was embarrassing to act out lines I had written myself, and to make matters worse, the dialogue wasn’t very clear when using a character voice.
“Chosen hero! Sir!”
“Loosen your throat, but speak more clearly! Don’t be shy about the lines!”
“Cho-sen! Hero! Sir! I am…”
“Wait~! That’s too exaggerated. Make it smoother! Flow naturally!”
“Cho-sen~ hero~ sir! I am…”
“No! It should go, ‘Chosen hero, sir, I am Saint Chris from another world.’ Like that!”
“Sigh…”
“Hana, are you crying?”
“No…”
“Then let’s practice from the beginning.”
“…”
Juri in pro mode was terrifying.
By the time the lines no longer felt embarrassing, I had gotten to the point where I could effortlessly shift into my character voice for a few key lines.
Sigh…
While clumsily continuing the ancient, primitive process of reviving a VTuber concept, I made a rare trip out to my uncle’s repair shop in Mapo-gu.
The shabby building housed various welding tools and equipment, and the wall was lined with notes about electronics or boiler repair appointments.
Thanks to Manager Kang’s help, my uncle had opened the repair shop quickly, and it was running smoothly.
We set up two chairs in the yard in front of the shop and started chatting.
“So, how’ve things been these days?”
“Busy as always.”
As the conversation reached a comfortable rhythm, I brought up the project I was preparing for the art exhibition.
My uncle, who had been leisurely resting, gave me a doubtful look.
“That… is it like some kind of game roleplay? And that’s considered art too?”
“Yeah.”
“Huh… The art world is something I’ll never understand. Ordinary folks like me just can’t wrap our heads around it.”
“Honestly, most people wouldn’t get it. Even my teachers keep asking, ‘What exactly is this?’ Stuff like this—beyond just drawing—is rare even among professionals.”
“Is that so?”
By 2024, this kind of work would be a common trend in the art world. But for now, in this era, it barely existed except among a few eccentric artists.
Especially audience-participatory art—there were even fewer doing that.
“Yeah, it’s a really unusual project…”
“I thought you’d just be painting some big artwork again and putting it up here and there. That’s what you’ve always been good at.”
“I wanted to try something different this time.”
“Heh, so you’re finally hitting that rebellious phase, huh? It happens. Everyone goes through a time when they refuse to do what others expect of them.
Honestly, I was worried you’d stay the same height forever, but at least your mind is growing fast.”
“Rebellious phase, my foot… And my height… Well, I’ll grow eventually.”
“Hmm, I don’t know. I have a feeling you’ll stay tiny forever. Like Thumbelina, fitting snugly in someone’s pocket.”
“Don’t jinx me like that, Uncle. Thumbelina? Seriously?”
“Haha!”
He laughed, then suddenly brought up an idea.
“Oh, by the way.”
“?”
“Wouldn’t you need a desk or some kind of wall to set up your computer monitor? Just plopping it in an empty space doesn’t seem right.”
“I was planning to borrow a desk from school, and for the wall… I figured I’d just rent a classroom or something. Why?”
“I thought I could help set up a simple wall or worktable for you. I recently got some leftover materials from a restaurant partition job, and it seems like exactly what you’d need.”
“…!”
With that, my exhibition setup evolved significantly.
Instead of just placing a computer in a corner room, I could now create a small partitioned space within the exhibition hall using prefabricated walls, carefully hiding the “red pill” for added effect.
This meant I didn’t have to insist on using a classroom anymore.
I wouldn’t need long cable connections either. Plus, the less my face showed during the exhibition, the more immersive the artwork would become. This change was a huge improvement.
‘I’d been half-giving up on the Crown Prince Sado meta because it was too complicated, but now…’
My uncle promised to help me build the partitioned room with the prefabricated walls on the exhibition day. I was deeply touched and expressed my gratitude.
“Thanks, Uncle. I’m always relying on you.”
“What are you talking about? Haha……Helping you out isn’t some big deal.”
Even as he said that, he smiled warmly and ruffled my hair.
With that, the preparations progressed bit by bit.
Sometimes I had to persuade people.
And before I knew it, April—the month of the exhibition—was fast approaching.
Thanks to the help I received over the past month, the new project was finally starting to take shape.