Brother, Am I Cute? [EN]: Chapter 203

Hyung, Am I Cute? 203

Art Advertising Campaign.

Advertising isn’t always about making money.

This campaign is non-profit and aims to make people think about the topic again.

It reminds us of things we knew but turned away from.

Things we weren’t particularly aware of, or things we might have ignored.

Giving these things attention from time to time is a good stimulus.

It’s even more impactful to convey it visually without necessarily persuading with words.

Even if people just pass by, the message unconsciously permeates.

That’s the beauty of the culture that art creates.

It fosters a natural sense of empathy that doesn’t feel detached from everyday life.

“Wow, there are so many participants since there’s no age limit. How’s it going? Are there any interesting paintings?”

These are the people in charge of selecting the paintings for this campaign.

She nodded at his question.

“Everyone is creative and skilled. Most of the kids took pictures of their drawings and sent them in.”

“Did everyone from the upper grades draw using digital programs?”

“Some of them did, and some drew by hand. That’s what makes it fun – even though we set the standards.”

“Really? I’m looking at the adult section, and everyone used Photoshop or Clip Studio [popular digital art software]. Or apps.”

“Because it’s easier to submit that way.”

“Digitalization is really advanced these days. But I cut out certain backgrounds and things like that.”

“Why?”

“It’s a sensitive issue these days, those kinds of things.”

“I guess.”

Let’s say someone drew a specific alley in a certain area as the background.

If it’s portrayed in a negative way, many troublesome things can happen.

We posted a notice about that, but many people submitted without reading it.

Well, from the reviewers’ perspective, it was easy to disqualify them right away.

“I wanted to be in charge of the kids rather than the adults, especially the lower grades. You’re lucky. Kids’ drawings are kind of fun.”

“Well, there aren’t that many.”

“There are also kids from art academies participating.”

“That’s true, but I want to see something a little more unique.”

“Wow, you want to see something more fun?”

“Water scarcity is a common theme.”

“That’s true. Still, it’s amazing that interesting paintings come out every year with different themes.”

She winked as if agreeing with his words.

“Why are you winking? Are your eyes twitching from looking too much?”

“No, I’m not! Hurry up and sit down and work. I have a mountain of things to review too.”

“There aren’t that many lower grades, are there?”

“I know there aren’t that many other submissions either.”

“Caught you.”

When you do it every year, you get used to the work.

So the reviewing speed is extraordinary. Drawings that immediately stand out pass the first round.

The main criterion is a clear delivery of meaning in the drawing.

Since this isn’t an exhibition, it’s out if you have to guess the meaning of the drawing or research the artist’s life.

You can submit those to other contests.

“Huh?”

She was reviewing diligently when something caught her eye.

First of all, it was one of the few drawings in the lower grades section drawn with an app.

And above all, the drawing clearly conveyed a distinct meaning.

“Wow, ingenious.”

She couldn’t help but exclaim.

The man who had been sitting back down to work heard the sound and rushed over.

“What is it? What is it?”

“Look at this.”

There was a drawing at the tip of her finger.

A production consisting of two panels.

The painting was split in half, contrasting the top and bottom.

First, the top picture.

A cute SD [super deformed, a style of caricature] character is naked and getting hit by the shower.

There was foam all over the body.

The water flows down and enters the drain, which is full of hair.

Right below the picture.

The hair entering the drain is connected to the person below.

The crown of the person’s head is represented by the hair that went into the drain.

He bows his head and grabs his neck with one hand, indicating he’s thirsty.

That’s what he was conveying.

Only the empty bottle he was holding in his other hand shone.

And the title of this picture.

[Not someone else’s problem.]

A short but powerful phrase.

She felt goosebumps at that moment.

Is this really the concept and meaning that a lower grade child came up with?

Deceived by the cute picture, the meaning contained within delivers an even greater shock.

The man who was watching from behind also exclaimed.

“Wow, genius.”

“Really, wow.”

“The top is the abundance of water. The bottom is the poverty of water. It’s an extremely divided cinematic production, and the title makes you think about it again.”

“Wow, it’s so cool.”

“It’s not about the rise of class, but about coming down. Water flows down. Wow. This was directed by a lower grade student?”

“Come to think of it, the character above and the character below are the same.”

“That’s right. In the end, that’s what happens.”

Even more creative is the part.

“He expresses the crown like that. That’s creativity.”

“The empty bottle with nothing in it catches my eye more.”

The two admired the painting for a while, and then the man spoke first.

“But how old is this kid?”

“Let’s see. Huh? No way!”

“Why?”

The email stated that he was 3 years old, and even a video of him drawing was submitted.

The two were shocked and opened their mouths wide.

Because the age was more shocking than the painting.

***

Creativity.

I always thought Siha was smart.

Even if his speech is a little slow, he can express everything.

It’s ambiguous whether this is my fault or whether his personality played a role.

Anyway, I thought Siha was great in many ways.

I was feeling that he was seeing things differently from me, but I’ve never been so impressed as this time.

“Siha, you’re really amazing!”

“Ah?”

“Siha has a really rich imagination!”

I didn’t have a word to explain creativity, so I replaced it with imagination.

I always try to use easy language when I speak, to be understandable.

“Moga [what]?”

“Huh? I’m talking about the painting you drew this time. Even Hyung thinks it’s amazing!”

“Ah? Siha drew what he saw.”

“Okay. You’re saying you drew what Siha saw or experienced?”

“Ah ah. This Hyung’s hair.”

Siha tapped the crown of my head.

Yeah. Of course, I told Siha that it was my hair. I also made bubbles.

The picture below is a drawing of what happened at daycare.

When those two are combined, a really meaningful picture comes out.

But look, expressing that crown part like that is creativity, and it’s a part that can’t be explained in any other way.

Siha has enough talent.

It’s still a long way off for that seed to sprout and bloom.

No, maybe the time is not far off.

“Hyung?”

Siha looked up at me and tilted his head.

I chuckled and stroked his head.

He wiggles his head slightly and rubs it as if he feels good.

He’s really cute.

“But Siha, was it okay for Hyung to decide the title?”

“Hyung good title.”

“Yeah, Hyung is good at making titles… I was wondering if ‘Not someone else’s problem’ was okay.”

“Gae chana [it’s okay], gae chana.”

“Do you know what it means?”

“Namhae is not!”

Why is Namhae [South Sea, a region in Korea] suddenly appearing?

“It’s not ‘Namhae’, it’s ‘Namui’ [someone else’s].”

“Ah ah. Nam ae [someone else’s].”

It became not someone else’s love problem.

Well, I don’t think that’s wrong either…

“Ahem. It means that it’s not someone else’s problem, but it becomes my problem. Is this something Siha experienced?”

At my words, Siha nodded and began to explain.

From what happened at daycare to becoming an empty bottle.

Showering with me.

I got to hear this repertoire again from Siha’s mouth.

Of course, it was very abbreviated.

“Okay, okay, I got it. Siha is really amazing.”

“Hyung too.”

We praised each other.

I was spending a leisurely day like that when for some reason I got a call from Seo Su-hyeon.

I was surprised because I had finished preparing to go to the playground with Siha and was putting on my shoes.

“Oh, Su-hyeon, why?”

“Oppa [older brother, used by females], do you have some time?”

“No, I have to take care of something urgently right now. I have to ask the decision maker now.”

“Ah, really? You must be very busy.”

“Wait a minute, I’ll ask. Siha, Su-hyeon is asking if you have time?”

“Ah, Oppa!”

“Why? There’s nothing more important than going to the playground right now.”

“I thought you were doing something very busy.”

“No, what’s busier than this? The frog is too busy singing gae-gul gae-gul [ribbit ribbit], so I don’t know.”

“I’m not a frog! What’s a frog doing on this pretty face!”

“Are you saying you’re pretty yourself?”

“This oppa really!”

At that time, Siha nodded as if he remembered something, saying ‘Ah!’.

“Gae-gul [ribbit]!”

“Huh?”

“Gae-gul Nuna [older sister]!”

“Oh? You didn’t remember because I said Su-hyeon? I left out Nuna.”

“Gae-gul gae-gul, sings well.”

“Oh, that’s right. She sings well.”

Seo Su-hyeon also heard this sound over the phone and muttered, ‘That’s too much, Siha. How can you not know my name.’

Geez, it’s enough to know the nickname.

In this day and age, many people remember someone by their nickname.

Of course, most of those cases are people you meet in chat or games…

Anyway, you should be honored if Siha gave you a nickname himself.

Or did I make it up?

I’m a little confused about my memory, but let’s ask what happened today that made her call.

“So what’s going on?”

“Actually, I don’t do cover songs; I upload videos with my own songs. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“But it seems like there’s a limit to this to some extent. It doesn’t seem to have any unique features.”

“Wasn’t it just a hobby? Just to make pocket money. Of course, the scale is getting a bit bigger for pocket money.”

“No, well, that’s right.”

This, this, she’s tasted the money and is trying to become a golden frog [someone who makes a lot of money].

This is how hobbies become full-fledged careers.

Well, you can have enough greed.

I understand that there is a limit.

It’s not a full-time job, so how can songs come out of the factory every day?

Of course, there will be monsters like that.

“Then isn’t it better to just do cover songs?”

“That market isn’t easy either. There are already a lot of them. You have to get permission to write songs and share the profits. It’s complicated…”

“Um, that’s right. So why did you call? The introduction is long! Siha, let’s go out for now.”

I took Siha to the playground.

I can’t keep talking on the phone while standing.

“Hyung, Siha too, Siha too. Bollae [go out]. Gae-gul Bollae [Let’s go out, frog].”

“Huh? Ah! Okay.”

I ended the call.

I made a video call to make it look good.

“Oh? The screen is on. Can you see it now?”

“Ah ah.”

“Ah, Oppa! I was surprised that you suddenly hung up. Siha, hello.”

She was surprised, but she greets thoroughly.

I asked the purpose again.

“So, can Siha come out this time to do an impromptu composition?”

“Why do you need Siha to do an impromptu composition?”

“I’m making a song with what Siha says. Isn’t it fun?”

“Yeah. No. Do you think people will find it fun to make a song with Siha’s words? And it’s a bit like showing your face. Your channel isn’t a complete beginner anymore.”

“Just the voice, not the face. Like before at the cafe. That video has the most views.”

At that time, Siha pulled on my leg.

“Hyung, Siha do. Siha make song.”

“Huh? Uh… Su-hyeon Nuna [older sister] wants to make a song with what Siha says.”

Siha looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“Hyung, Siha do. Siha make song.”

“Oh, oh? Really?”

Seo Su-hyeon’s voice was heard over the phone.

“Yes! We have to listen to Siha’s opinion! Unconditionally opposing is not good for children’s education.”

“So how much are you going to give me?”

“That word is for children, children’s education…”

“Gae-gul! This! This!”

Siha rubbed his index finger and thumb together to make a circle.

Ah! That’s it. Making bubbles that I taught you when you take a shower.

Otherwise, there’s no way he’d rub it.

Maybe he was thinking about it because he said he was going to make a song with what he said.

But the problem is that Seo Su-hyeon doesn’t know what ‘this’ means.

“Oppa’s education is wrong! Already money!”

It was a misunderstanding.

But even if that’s true, isn’t economic education good? Ahem.

Anyway, thanks to Siha, Seo Su-hyeon decided to buy me beef.

Let’s cut open the golden frog’s belly with food.