Starting with a Muse

“Impulsive droplets of crimson and gold, litter and splash onto the canvas. A vision that's thought within, but yet to behold, an artist never grows tired…”

From the moment he began to comprehend the world around him, he perceived it as an unblemished canvas, eager to be adorned and saturated with vibrant, exotic hues… The skies, the land, the very atmosphere... He held a vision.

The world would be his canvas…

…and he would be the painter and transform this boring world into something magnificent.

In this realm, many are endowed with numerous gifts, skilled and fortunate, and Junji was no exception. At just ten years old, he earned the title of the youngest artist in the world, yet he did not settle there. By the age of sixteen, he had crafted one of the most exquisitely painted works, rivaling masterpieces from ages past, which even led to his first exhibition and garnered him fans globally. He dedicated himself each day to sketching his visions and dreams onto paper, aspiring for ambitions greater than himself. A true dreamer, he continues to dream even after achieving so much. What may appear to some as a significant milestone in this new generation, to Junji, was simply another stride toward the vision he had as a child. Few comprehend the thoughts of someone so abstract and unconventional. While others perceive things as merely beautiful or stunning, Junji views them with an understanding that surpasses the surface.His imagination was limitless.

Now a college student, at the pinnacle of his life and career, he has conducted numerous exhibitions and created nearly a thousand breathtaking abstract paintings, as well as many stunning sculptures. Many believe he embodies the talent of the world's most celebrated artists combined!...

Junji Rhee, a young man fueled by a grand dream…

Is presently engaged in a fierce staring contest with the canvas

With his paintbrush poised in his hand, he remained still and motionless atop the huge canvas spread across the floor. Paint flocked and danced the palette in vibrant heaps, but his artist’s eye saw only dull, lifeless hues…stolen by the absence of inspiration that gnawed at his core like an unrelenting beast. He wanted to paint and paint, but he felt detached from his work, which was a rarity back when he was much younger, and full of inspiration…but as of late, he couldn't seem to do anything with a brush, nor with a chisel. Whenever he picked up an instrument to put to work, he found himself drained and lacking, simply empty and dead.

“...I don't understand…Why am I having so much trouble just to simply make a stroke?” Junji hissed under his breath, his delicate features scrunched into a tight scowl at the canvas, as if the canvas was to blame for the sudden drop in creativity. His grip on his brush tightened to that of a vice, straining the wooden handle to the point that it snapped from the force. Regardless, even after it did, Junji didn't seem to care, he probably didn't even notice, his eyes were only dead set on the canvas, the hand that had held the brush still clenched tightly with the remaining pieces of wood tightly encased in his hands.

He had been staring at the canvas like this since the early hours of the morning, knelt over it, he attempted to try and paint something for his next upcoming exhibition, which wouldn't be till some months from now, but realized that he honestly couldn't even make a line. His thoughts blank the moment he picked up the brush to try and paint something. Eventually, after a long period of silence, his lips turned into a pained open mouth sneer, “...I need a break.” He concluded. It was a practical, harmless idea that crossed his mind, an obvious observation too at that. He truly did need a break, after all, everyday it was either he was envisioning what he would create next, or he would spend hours destroying his hands just to perfectly design a stone sculpture, there were times when his hands would bleed from how much he would overexert himself just trying to get every detail right, but at the time it didn't matter to him, so long as he achieved what it was that he was envisioning in that moment, he was satisfied.

He figured that years of inadequate rest had finally taken their toll, leaving his mind at the mercy of exhaustion. No matter, he decided that it was time for a well-deserved break. He thought that during this pause, he would reassess his current way of life, suspecting that it might have contributed to his creative block. But that was a concern for another day; for now, he felt weary, not in body but in spirit. “I… Let’s just put these away, shall we?” he said to himself, realizing he was clutching the broken remnants of his paintbrush, astonished that he had actually snapped his favorite tool in half. Regrettably, he tossed aside the shattered brush and its fragments, stood up, and stepped away from the canvas. For a moment, he simply gazed at the incomplete colors on the canvas. The wild combination of shades swirling together led him to ponder, “What exactly was I trying to create this time?”

At that moment, it struck him. He was in need of a muse.

It had been roughly two years since he had last experienced the influence of a muse, someone who served as the focal point of all his creative energies. His previous muse was a person he cherished deeply, but due to certain circumstances, that individual had departed the country in search of better opportunities. One might question what could be more appealing than being a muse for one of Manhattan's top artists. Perhaps it was the chance to finally start the game company that had long been a dream for them. Everyone had aspirations, and that person had finally pursued theirs, unfortunately leaving Junji behind.

Junji never held it against them; he even supported their decision, which demonstrated how much he cared for them and wanted their happiness. However, now he found himself completely alone, even more distressing was his inability to draw a single line on paper—how humiliating.

With a deep sigh, he rolled up the canvas and leaned it against the wall by the windowsill. His gaze wandered outside to the campus grounds, observing as other students went about their lives, blissfully unaware of Junji’s struggles. He resided on campus, occupying his own dorm room, as the university graciously provided him with a studio so he wouldn't even have to step foot of campus as that on its own was a hassle. His exhibitions had attracted many students to attend, so he had become somewhat of a campus celebrity. Naturally not by his choosing. But as the saying goes, “You reap what you sow.”, and Junji had reaped quite a handful of things, not that he was complaining, but he guess it was just overwhelming at times.

His thoughts drifted, and at times his eyes lazily followed one person after another until they landed on one of the campus's massive oak trees. “Hmm..” he hummed, contemplating whether he should take a break outside and gaze at the sky for a while. The shade offered by the tree looked incredibly inviting from his position. So, without hesitation, he gathered the remaining materials, turned off the lights, secured the studio, and slung his bag strap over his shoulder, “Farewell, for now.” he mused with a faint smile, waving goodbye to his studio before shifting his focus ahead and making his way down the hall. Indeed, he was an unusual character. Lacking close friends, he frequently talked to himself and the objects around him, which earned him peculiar looks from those nearest to him, including his parents, some family members, his agent, and his manager. However, his manager had grown accustomed to his quirks, as she often spent time with him when her schedule permitted.

“Ah, I should probably let Lisa know I’m taking a little break... or should I call it a hiatus?” he mused, uncertain about the spontaneity of his decision. While he walked, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone to text the person in question, informing her of his plans. Just a few minutes later, and mind you, he hadn't even reached the ground floor yet, his phone began to ring. Unsurprisingly, it was Lisa.

“Lisa?”

“Junji! You're going on hiatus?! Are you unwell? Oh my god! I hope it's not some illness, is it your allergies!?..” The young woman exclaimed over the phone, sounding every bit like a concerned mother. Junji felt a bit overwhelmed yet simultaneously touched by her worry for him. Gently, he responded, “I’m fine, Lisa. I just don’t feel like painting at the moment. That’s all.”

“Really? Are you sure you’re okay?.. How long do you plan to take this break, my dear?” she inquired, still sounding anxious but less frantic. Junji paused to think about her question, his gaze drifting to the ceiling. After a few moments, he replied in a calm tone, “As long as it takes, Lisa. Can’t I just let you know when I’m ready to come back?” He then tilted his head slightly, frowning as he considered. Determining the duration of his absence hadn’t occurred to him; he believed that creativity shouldn’t be confined to a schedule. Lisa took a brief moment to ponder his response before saying, “Alright, I trust you’ll return to the art scene soon. I won’t pressure you… I’ll inform Mark that you’re going on hiatus. Okay?” Junji nodded, answering with a simple, “Yes, thank you. Please tell Mark-Hyung I said ‘hi’, see you later.”

“Enjoy your rest, bye!~ We’ll be here waiting!” she cooed on the other end, with the call disconnecting soon after. Junji pulled the phone away from his ear to look at the screen for a brief moment. A small smile appeared on his face. He felt truly grateful for someone like Lisa; she was truly the best manager anyone could wish for. Without her, he couldn’t imagine where he would be in his career; she had been an unwavering guiding light, and he was thankful for everything she had done for him.

"She’s far too kind to me," he mused, the smile still gracing his lips. After slipping his phone into his pocket, he continued his walk until he found himself outside. The sun's warm embrace greeted him, along with fellow students from his department and others. Some paused to chat briefly, while others merely waved from a distance. Despite not being particularly outgoing, his artwork had made him quite popular. At times, this fame felt burdensome. He often found himself surrounded and bombarded with questions about his life and work during public events. People had a tendency to idolize those they admired, treating them like deities, yet Junji was no deity; he was simply a man. He too had someone he looked up to, but he regarded that person with respect rather than reverence, which he genuinely felt. Humanity was peculiar; everyone was indeed peculiar.

As he meandered through the picturesque campus fields, the gentle breeze tousled his white hair. He soon arrived at the oak tree he had spotted from his studio window earlier. However, as he approached, he noticed a figure suspended from one of the branches, clutching what appeared to be a camera. "Umm..." Junji hummed, slightly puzzled by their actions, but he didn’t look away. Instead, he walked until he stood directly beneath the tree, close enough to identify the person hanging from the branch, and what he saw left him utterly speechless.

There hung a young man, his legs wrapped around the branch, hanging upside down with a carefree grin illuminating his handsome face. Most of his features were obscured by the camera he held before him, while his dreadlocks floated freely in the air.

"How... stunning," Junji whispered, captivated by how someone could exude such beauty while performing a simple act like hanging upside down from a tree. To Junji, the young man radiated brilliance, his dark skin shimmering in the sunlight, his black shirt riding up slightly to reveal his flat, toned stomach. It appeared that the young man was capturing a photograph?

Intrigued by the subject of the photograph, he followed the angle of the camera, discovering that it was directed at the sky above. "Incredible..." Junji breathed in awe as he stared upwards; the sky appeared even more otherworldly to him in that moment. Quickly, he shifted his attention back to the suspended figure and exclaimed,

"Please! Be my inspiration!"

The dark-skinned individual, preoccupied with adjusting his camera lenses, had not noticed Junji until he called out. Lowering the camera from his eyes, he regarded Junji with an easygoing smile, one eyebrow raised, and his smile soon blossomed into a wide grin. Without a second thought, he nodded and responded playfully,

"Absolutely! As long as you'll be mine too!~"

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