I Became A Renowned Genius At My Arts High School - Chapter 197



Only Noblemtl

Episode 197. Black Snow (1)

“What they saw was only a part.”

Soo-hyun said, pointing to the first sketchbook with her eyes.

On the way to the restaurant.

Soo-hyun had told him to take the sketchbook and three notebooks in question, and Humphrey had dutifully packed them into his bag. They were poking out at the end of the restaurant table.

“This… … is part of it?”

“That’s right. No one would have thought that a skeleton would become Black Snow.”

“B… Black Snow?”

Humphrey bit his lip slightly as he looked at the third note.

“Are you talking about the snow crystals I drew…? B… Black Snow. The name is pretty. I like… it.”

“Yeah. That’s how I see it. You seem to have delved into the essence of things rather than their appearance. So you got lost in things like skulls and bones, seeds… … things that could be called beginnings and ends, and you drew those.”

“Huh? Huh… … Wow… … .”

Humphrey looked startled and shook his head.

“I… … really felt that way?”

“huh?”

“That’s the first time anyone has said something like that to me. That… that is, no one has ever really understood my intentions.”

No way.

Su-hyeon shook her head.

The next 10 years.

When Black Snow was released, it gained immense popularity worldwide.

There’s no need for Humphrey to talk about how this design came about and what process the designer went through to create Black Snow.

So what is the source of that excitement and enthusiasm? Is it simply because it has become a trend among people? Is it because of the high price tag?

No, that’s not true.

Su-hyeon was confident.

Even someone who doesn’t know anything about Black Snow will definitely feel something when they encounter it.

Whether it’s discomfort, annoyance, attraction and excitement, or whatever.

You’ll feel it talking to you and it’ll be hard to ignore.

Because true art inherently has that kind of power.

Su-hyeon smiled brightly.

“Of course. You’re only showing it to me now.”

“uh?”

“I’m the first. If I show it to more people, I’ll get more support and love. That’s for sure.”

“Ha… … but.”

Even with Soo-hyeon’s compliments, Humphrey had a worried expression. It seemed like he was thinking about what he had heard from Jang.

“Whew. Forget about Jang or any of the other designers. And you said you only showed them the skeleton sketches. If they hadn’t stopped and read this far, they would have said the same thing I did. They would have seen how good this design was.”

“Is that so…?”

Humphrey smiled faintly.

“Yeah. So, let’s make this the main feature of this show.”

Su-hyeon brought the third note closer, unfolded it, and pointed at Black Snow.

“Will this… this kind of thing work?”

“huh?”

“You… … don’t have much impact.”

Humphrey shook his head.

It was certainly less impactful than the skeleton, but it was the most complete of Humphrey’s sketches. There was a reason for this that Humphrey had yet to realize.

Soohyun briefly touched on that part.

“This is really great. Humphrey’s signature understated yet eye-catching vibe, combined with Sasha’s elegance and gentleness.”

“I… really?”

“Yes. When you tried to force yourself to fit in with Shasha, it felt unnatural. But when you just emphasized your own color, it didn’t feel like Shasha at all. Even if Shasha tries to change, she has an identity that she shouldn’t lose.”

“That… that’s right. That’s right.”

“But this is very appropriate.”

“huh?”

“Perhaps something naturally melted inside you as you repeated countless sketches?”

“No… it melted?”

“Think about when you learn to swim. If you learn each movement individually and then tell them to move in the water, their body and head will be separate, their movements will not be connected, and they will wobble like a robot. Their arms will be separate, their legs will be separate.”

“Ha… haha. Right. That… that’s right.”

“But once you get used to the movement, you won’t have to think about it anymore, and your body will move naturally. Your body will do the right movement before you even think about it. Humphrey, your design looks like that too. When you tried so hard to keep up with Sasha, it was really jerky, but with constant practice, it became natural. Sasha has now melted into you.”

“Really? Do you really think so?”

“Yeah. You worked hard. I bet you had a hard time figuring out how to mix the colors you originally had with Sasha’s.”

“Huh.”

Was it a warm and sincere compliment that I had never heard from anyone?

Humphrey’s eyebrows furrowed and his lips pursed slightly.

Anyway, why do artists have so many deficiencies? And why are their emotions so abundant?

Soo-hyeon pretended not to know about the hot things Humphrey was feeling, and this time she took out the scrapbook she had prepared.

“I just happened to have a concept in mind that I think would go well with Black Snow. I’d like to see it together and talk about it. What do you think?”

“What… what?”

“It’s time.”

“Time, time! I… I’m fine! Oh, from today on, I… I don’t mind staying up all night!”

“I can’t do that.”

Su-hyeon smiled brightly and began to draw on the margins of her scrapbook.

The image of Soo-hyun and Humphrey’s showroom just came to mind vividly.

***

Left and right. Up and down. Outside and inside.

The positions of things that should be back to back or facing each other symmetrically are perfectly switched.

The first theme that came to Soo-hyun’s mind was a reversal.

The direction of the image is reversed, as if looking in a mirror.

How about starting with small twists and gradually building up to a stronger image, and then showing a twist in color and shape when reaching Humphrey’s black snow?

Then, you will be able to enjoy the unfamiliar feeling and fun of black snow, not white snow, more.

Those who enter the showroom where everything is upside down will have a mystical experience as if they have become Alice in Wonderland.

“It’s getting more and more perfect.”

Su-hyeon, who was sitting in an open-air cafe, imagining the details of the showroom and drawing pictures to be painted on the walls and objects to be installed, muttered without realizing it.

A day when Humphrey and I looked at scrapbooks together and brainstormed.

Among several ideas, the two focused on the theme of ‘reversal’.

A theme that fits both Humphrey’s ‘Black Snow’ and Su-hyeon’s ‘Gaze’ perfectly.

The two themes of black eyes and the reversal of gazes from the opposite side were enough to make one feel that they were destined and a perfect match.

“I had that… imagination. On a night when no one could sleep during the white nights, black snow would fall from the sky. There… carols would ring through the streets.”

Humphrey, who was locked in the warehouse and endlessly drawing sketches, said that one day he saw an image in a half-asleep state that he could not tell whether it was a dream or a hallucination.

Black snow falling on a world where everything is white. It wasn’t a round shape like normal snow, but rather a snowflake-shaped flower, and he drew it absentmindedly as if he was taking dictation.

A snowflake with complex branches extending out from a hexagonal shape.

It was reborn through the medium of Humphrey. In a sharper and more radiant form. It felt like it was even more radiant when wearing black.

“It’s so inspiring. This is what it feels like to give and receive inspiration.”

Soo-hyun also explained to Humphrey the ‘gaze’ work that had been going on.

Humphrey’s eyes lit up with excitement, and he confessed his fandom, saying that he was so impressed by the work he saw at the first day’s presentation with the designers and writers that he desperately wanted Soo-hyun to become his partner.

When asked if she wanted to see more of his work, Su-hyeon shared a few photos she had taken and the website address.

Humphrey, who was overjoyed, searched through the homepage that day and sent several long messages to Soo-hyun expressing his thoughts.

“It’s the schedule that’s the problem, nothing else matters.”

The only thing that was needed was a tight time frame.

Sasha’s 2000 F/W Haute Couture show is in early July. Excluding installation and rehearsal schedules, the actual working period is one month.

In it, Humphrey and Su-hyeon had to complete the perfect result.

“Phew.”

When you have your mind set like that.

“Soohyun!”

Someone called Soo-hyeon from the street.

Ssuk- A happy face came into Soo-hyun’s eyes as he turned his head.

It was Michael.

“Michael!”

As Soo-hyun smiled brightly, Michael strode into the seat where Soo-hyun was sitting.

“Are you alone?”

“Yeah. Let me cool my head for a bit.”

“Can I sit down for a moment?”

“of course.”

Michael Menden, whom I met while working on a picture book. Michael, who I had communicated with through the homepage, was one of Jacqueline’s new recruits and met Soo-hyun again.

“How are things going?”

Michael said, looking at Soo-hyun’s sketchbook.

“Well. So-so.”

“hmm.”

Michael raised his hand and ordered a drink, saying:

“Why didn’t you come out yesterday?”

“yesterday?”

“I’m talking about a meeting.”

“… … ?”

“Oh my god. You didn’t know?”

As Soo-hyeon quietly blinked, Michael shook his head.

“Somehow. You didn’t seem like the type of person who would fall for something like that, so I was wondering what was going on.”

Su-hyeon asked, spinning the pencil around.

“Was there any meeting?”

“Hmm. Now that I think about it, it wasn’t an official meeting, but… …you know, Jang?”

“page?”

Sasha’s main designer, Jang, heard from Humphrey.

However, I had never met Soo-Hyeon in person, so I couldn’t say that we knew each other.

“I’ve heard your name. You’re Sasha’s chief designer.”

“That’s right. I’m also in charge of this year’s Haute Couture show. So I’ve been to the co-working space a few times to encourage new designers. I’ve also given them helpful advice.”

“Oh. Really?”

The new designers, except for Humphrey, who was using the warehouse, were working in a separate shared workroom on the second floor of the annex. It was not at all strange for Jang, the head, to stop by and give them encouragement.

“Then, in order to make the show a success, Jang decided to show us his designs and themes that he would be revealing this time in advance. He suggested that we discuss how the themes would blend well with those of the new artists. We were very grateful for that.”

“I guess so. Normally, it’s something that would be kept under security until just before.”

“That’s right. Anyway, I think it was something the designers discussed separately. The designers contacted their partners individually and told them that Jang was hosting a meeting and told them the place and time. That was yesterday.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Just hearing up to that point, I thought I had a rough idea. It was a meeting where information exchanges that would become the core of the show took place.

Jang suggested it to the new designers, and the designers informed their partners of the meeting. In the process, Humphrey and Su-hyeon were left out.

Is this blatant bullying?

When your taste buds start to feel a little bitter.

“Since it wasn’t a mandatory meeting, I thought you and Humphrey just skipped out.”

Michael continued speaking with a troubled and regretful expression.

“But now that I think about it, I don’t think you’re the type to ignore something like that. Is there some kind of problem with Humphrey?”

There have been conflicts between designers and writers since the beginning of their collaboration. In addition, Humphrey did not show up at the joint studio, so it was easy for misunderstandings to arise.

“Not at all. Nothing like that. I’m very good with Humphrey.”

“That would be fortunate.”

Michael said, taking a sip of his drink.

“Actually, we are all worried about you.”

“What does that mean?”

“The first design deadline is in two days.”

“uh?”

“If you’ve prepared in advance, it shouldn’t be too much for the first round, but Humphrey hasn’t submitted it yet. And he hasn’t even shared how it’s going to be done.”

Michael shook his head and said.

“Jang said yesterday. Since the show is a promise, designers who break the schedule during the preparation process will be eliminated early. Everyone there knew. He was referring to Humphrey.”

“Is that true?”

Su-hyeon suddenly got up from her seat.

I was just concentrating on my work, but an unexpected restraint was coming in. And Humphrey was most likely unaware of this restraint.

“Michael. Thank you. I’ll contact you again.”

Su-hyeon, holding her sketchbook, hurriedly left the cafe.

I had to tell Humphrey this immediately.