CHAPTER 2 - LEAF - JIHYUN POV
It wasn't often that he found himself interested in new artists since he mainly focused on his own work. Then he came across Leaf. He had found their series of works fascinating, which had surprised him due to the nature of the works in question.
At first glance Leaf's artworks were dark in nature due to the immense dark colors used throughout to the point where it was nearly dripping in black. Yet it isn't until you take a second look that you realize there was another aspect. An innocence. A spark of light.
It was during an exhibition where both his and Leaf's work were featured together when it had first caught his eye. The theme had been Hope. The submission was the only one accepted that was completely different from the rest. It was a painting of a man who was chained to a dark and desolate cliff. He had a sad smile on his face. He didn't understand why it had been accepted until he saw it in person.
It was a piece meant to be experienced not simply looked at. It isn't until a person comes closer to inspect it that something on the man's chest starts to glow. It's a small delicate butterfly made of translucent fabric with lights and as you come closer it becomes brighter, and you realize the man isn't sad. He has hope.
The title of the piece was Prometheus. The artist didn't leave their real name; only an alias Leaf. It wasn't often that he used his affluence to get information, but eventually he managed to get an email address from the exhibition organizer and made contact. He did not expect such a prompt reply nor the content of the message.
Sorry. I can not read Korean. -Leaf.
He quickly replied.
To Leaf.
That's actually alright. I studied English in school, although I don't speak it very well. My name is V, I also have a few of my photographs as part of the exhibition. I was contacting you because I found your painting inspiring. I had hoped that you would have attended the exhibition opening to talk about your piece, but you didn't seem to be there. Do you live overseas?
From V
This is very unlike him. He wasn't usually one to pry unnecessarily into a stranger's life like this, but that painting… It struck a chord within him. It felt sad and bleak, yet there was the glimmer of hope. It felt more real. More genuine than any of the other submissions he saw. He spent most of his day waiting for a reply from Leaf.
He was not disappointed to find a reply that night.
Hello V.
I'm very glad that you enjoyed my painting. When I heard about this exhibition from a friend of mine I knew exactly how I wanted to interpret hope.
I had been going through a difficult time, and through a series of events I met several people that have inspired this hope in me. I could not help but think upon the story of Pandora's box and think of myself as Prometheus. The idea may not be unique, but I enjoyed experimenting with combining technology with traditional art to interpret it in my own way.
I didn't attend the opening due to work scheduling conflicts. I can't quit my day job unfortunately. I don't make enough money as an artist to support myself and my kids. T^T
My friend had shown me some of your work before, so I did get a chance to at least see one of your pieces at the exhibition. It was a perspective shot of a flower growing towards the sun, as if it was reaching towards it. I found it very whimsical and positive. It's very refreshing to see that in artwork these days. It's usually political or depressing nowadays. Not that I can say anything considering my sad looking pieces. ^^;
As to your last question. I moved here about a year ago, but I don't have many friends here so I would really appreciate a continued correspondence. It's not often I get to meet a fellow artist. ^^
Hoping to make a new friend,
Leaf
This person's speech reminded him of his childhood friend. The addition of text emoticons made this person seem more approachable. It made this person seem… Cute. Perhaps this person was a woman?
This was how he found himself brushing up his English skills and a pen pal.
II.
Their conversations remained mostly through email, maybe it was due to their busy lives and schedules, but he did thoroughly enjoy their exchanges. He learned that she was in fact a woman, a widow with two children and a dog. She however did not want to disclose her real name just yet and he in turn did not either.
He found their exchanges very interesting, because she seemed to have such a bright and positive personality. He felt sad for her that she had lost her husband so early and had wondered if that was the reason her artwork seemed so dark. He had decided to ask her and had gotten a long reply.
To the Curious V.
Maybe. I feel it's mostly due to the fact that feelings in general are usually more complicated aren't they? Just like people are complicated and you can't judge someone with a simple glance.
Rather than making something that's immediately eye-catching. I'd rather make something that people would have to take a closer look and put more thought into what is being seen. Who knows maybe it may open the eyes of someone that was close-minded? That's my hope within my artwork anyways.
Everyone has a different approach to art. Like yours for instance. Your work often features the sun, but most times the feelings I get from them are the strive for personal growth under the best circumstances. It makes me feel that you are the type of person that likes to give a lot of encouragement. That's what your work looks like through my eyes at least. ^^
Awaiting your reply,
Leaf
She was such an introspective person. V couldn't help but admire Leaf a little more after each one of her replies.
To the thoughtful Leaf,
Your kind words regarding my photographs makes me very happy. The hope that I have for my photographs is that it offers some type of hope for those looking at them to feel some type of comfort and healing in them. It may seem presumptuous of me to say the least, but those are the feelings that I have while I am taking them. If even ounce of those feelings can be kept in those photos I want to be able to share that warmth with people.
We have very different motivations when it comes to our crafts, but in the end we are both the same. We are both trying to make this world a better place. I admire you for trying to open people's minds. It feels that your endeavors are quite ambitious and much more difficult than mine.
I had never actually thought of it in that way before. That my work would actually inspire encouragement. It is true that everyone perceives art in different ways and I always find myself amazed at the things you see in my work. I am very glad to have taken the initiative to seek out such an amazing woman such as yourself.
Sincerely,
V
Her correspondences have definitely left an impact on him. He kept coming back to the exhibition hoping to perhaps catch her there just because she mentioned going back after their exchanges a few times. He, however, managed to chance upon someone else who was enamored with one of his pieces of the sun. He had hoped that it was Leaf, but she had introduced herself as Rika.
AN. I usually have my husband checkover and edit everything, since he's a much more amazing writer than I am, but he's lazy. I felt it's been a bit too long for this story since I last updated and I've been too impatient. So I just decided to update it. Enjoy~
Also. I've created an AO3 and posted my work there as well!~
