Photographer Shushu.
Korean name: Jung Se-in.
Cantonese name: Zeng Shuiyan.
Both parents are Korean, and he himself holds Korean citizenship. As a golden omega from a wealthy family, he attended ‘Hong Kong Minton International School (H.M.I.S.)’, secretly known as the only school for alphas and omegas in East Asia, from early childhood education to high school, to receive a more stable education. After graduating, he returned to his home country and entered H University as a modern dance major. Later, he moved to New York and enrolled in the M.G. Dance School.
Due to an injury sustained during practice, he underwent Achilles tendon reconstruction surgery. While recovering, he suffered the same injury to the same area in an everyday accident. The surgical site became infected, requiring its removal and a transplant, ending his career as a dancer.
He liquidated his life in New York and returned to Korea.
Three years later, he debuted as a photographer with his first solo exhibition, ‘Body,’ through Gallery Phantom, run by Liu Weikun, a long-time acquaintance from his H.M.I.S. days.
Each exhibition sold out, and he is now recognized as one of the most notable fine art photographers in Korea. With aggressive marketing by CEO Liu Weikun, he is aiming to become a global artist, starting with Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan.
He was more often called by his nickname Shushu, derived from his Hong Kong name, by family and friends than by his real name. He now uses this nickname as his artist name. It is known that he also used Shushu as his English name since his H.M.I.S. days.
Thanks to his appearance, which is a typical example of a glamorous yet delicate golden omega, he has many fans, leading to positive evaluations that he has brought popular attention to the art world. However, there are also views that he receives exaggerated evaluations beyond his abilities due to his status and appearance as a golden omega.
In any sense, he is currently an issue maker in the art scene and a central figure among young artists that even large galleries cannot ignore.
○
I had heard about it in advance, but the scale of the event was different from the previous group exhibition.
A photo wall was set up in front of Phantom’s main entrance for the press conference and VIP invitation opening party for Shushu’s ‘Body to Soul’ exhibition.
Guests, dressed much more lavishly than at the previous opening party, posed at the photo wall in order of arrival, and about 30 reporters flashed their cameras, capturing their images competitively.
Not only art-related media but also cultural reporters from major media outlets were invited, and most of them responded to the invitation. This is proof that articles about Shushu’s exhibition are a hot topic.
In fact, the inclusion of high-profile actors and models on the VIP invitation list was an opportunity to appeal to the general public who may not be very interested in art. Even if they do not immediately become customers of the gallery, public interest can lead to the gallery’s influence.
The temporary parking lot in front of the main entrance was filled with the photo wall and reporters, and there was no more space to place congratulatory wreaths. Beyond the barricades, fans of the invited celebrities and passersby gathered, making it resemble an event venue for a major clothing brand or a movie premiere rather than a gallery.
In the art world, even the most famous artists cannot compare to celebrities who appear on TV in terms of public recognition, so if celebrities attend such events, it can lead to an awkward situation where the guest becomes more important than the host… but Shushu was an exception.
Arriving in front of Phantom with his manager in a heavily tinted luxury sedan, he wore a plain black t-shirt and neat jeans, with no hint of extravagance.
Pushing his slightly long, wavy, curly hair behind his ears as he got out of the back seat, Shushu gave the impression of a sophisticated artist even in just jeans and a t-shirt.
People say that each person is the protagonist of their own life, but the moment I saw him, I thought, “Isn’t this the kind of person who is the protagonist of the world, of every story?”
A person born and existing to be the protagonist.
I couldn’t find any other way to express it.
“Shushu, look over here!”
“Wave your hand!”
The way he kept pushing the stray hairs behind his ears at the reporters’ requests and biting his lower lip shyly made the impressions of the celebrities and models who had passed through the photo wall before his all fade away.
As soon as the filming was over, he quickly looked for his manager, who was watching from the side of the photo wall. His manager led him, and disappeared inside the main entrance together.
We love everything about you, Shushu!
Someone shouted that in English from beyond the barricade, seemingly considering his long life abroad (perhaps a foreign fan). Before he completely disappeared inside the door, he glanced back and waved with a smile.
○
Shushu took a few sips of the drink in his tumbler and puffed out his cheeks, exhaling a long breath.
He was supposed to wait in the office and take a break until the first part of the event, the press conference, began.
The manager and the artist sat side by side in front of the conference table, and the CEO sat not next to the artist but leaning against the table, a step away from him. His gaze was constantly directed at Shushu, and the faint smile that seemed to illuminate his entire face beyond his lips… made him feel like a stranger.
“Taking pictures… can’t we skip it next time?”
Shushu looked up at him and asked carefully, but sincerely.
Unlike the slightly shy yet seemingly accustomed appearance he showed at the photo wall, he looked like a child complaining about not wanting to eat carrots, with a slightly drooping gaze filled with worry and biting his lip. Not a child who stubbornly makes demands that trouble his parents, but a child whose complaints are so lovely that you want to grant his everything.
“What power do I have? Talk to Manager Han.”
Whether that was just my thought or not, the CEO’s gaze as he looked down at the artist, deferring the answer to the manager, was so gentle that he seemed ready to reach out and sweep the artist’s hair back. It was like an older person being pleased with the trivial worries of someone much younger. But as far as I knew, the two were the same age.
The artist’s gentle eyes turned to the manager next to him.
“Manager, is it really not possible?”
“You say that, but you do it skillfully once you start. It’s your destiny to live in the spotlight, Shushu. Accept it.”
“I used to be okay with it… but now I’m the one taking pictures, not the one being photographed.”
Perhaps it was because of his gentle, neat tone and soft voice with good resonance, but even though he was almost pleading about work-related matters, it didn’t sound bad.
“You saw it earlier, didn’t you? The fans outside. Let’s do this much fan service for the people who love you. Okay?”
When the manager mentioned the fans while holding his hand and giving it strength a few times, he seemed unable to say anything more and let out another long sigh as if resigned.
“Then, you’ll come with me during the solo interview, right?”
“Um… I might be a bit busy because I have to see off the customers.”
After both the first part of the event, the press conference, and the second part, consisting of socializing and a party, were over, a solo interview with Shushu and a major art magazine was scheduled in the gallery’s reception room.
I had heard in advance that he relied heavily on his manager, but it seemed more severe than expected. At the words that he might not be able to accompany him to the interview, he made a face as if he had been sentenced to the end of the world, exaggerating a bit.
Hyung Juhan, who was standing next to me in front of the partition separating the inner office space and the conference table across from them, turned his head towards me and smiled small enough for only me to hear. Even Hyung Juhan found those aspects of Shushu, who was much older, cute.
“I’ll cover the send-off, so go with him. He can’t do anything without Manager Han.”
The CEO, who had taken his body off the table he was leaning on, lightly placed his hand on the artist’s shoulder as he passed behind the chairs where Shushu and the manager were sitting.
“Sigh… it’s unfair to look at me with that face. It’s a face I can’t say NO to.”
When the manager, after looking at the artist’s earnest face once, waved the white flag, the artist finally smiled with relief. The smile that revealed his teeth without a sound had the power to purify the surrounding air itself transparently.
He was the second person to easily change the atmosphere around him with his presence or words. The CEO, who made me feel like I was trapped and separated inside a glass wall in this very office, and Shushu in front of me now.
He was the protagonist of today, but it was clear that the reason why everyone in the office was paying attention to Shushu as if surrounding him was not just because of that.
“It’s because Manager Han spoils him and accepts everything that he’s become like that.”
“Wow… CEO Liu, are you blaming me now? About Shushu?”
At the manager’s wronged voice, he, who was standing in front of the shelf by the window pouring a glass of champagne, turned around and smiled.
It was also unfamiliar to see him enjoying himself by exchanging jokes like this. As far as I knew, he was not a person who enjoyed jokes very much, and even when he did joke with Hyung Juhan or Noona Yuni, it was mostly in the form of teasing each other.
“That’s right. If there’s a problem with his work, it’s basic to rush over even at 2 or 3 in the morning and volunteer as an assistant, and it’s probably Manager Han who unconditionally prioritizes Shushu while canceling other artists’ exhibition schedules.”
Hyung Inwoo, who had arrived at the gallery early to avoid the photo wall event, even joined in, vouching for the CEO’s favoritism towards Shushu.
“She’s the most important artist in the gallery, is that wrong?”
The CEO made a nonchalant expression while placing the thin, long champagne glass in front of Shushu.
Leave a Reply