I Became A Renowned Genius At My Arts High School - Chapter 261



Only Krnovel

Episode 261. Crash Landing (3)

“You went there alone?”

The day after seeing the old overpass across New York, Soo-hyun went straight to find Jacqueline.

I wanted to share the inspiration that came to me so strongly as soon as possible.

But Jacqueline’s reaction was different from what was expected.

“Nothing happened? Why did you go there alone in the first place?”

“yes?”

Jacqueline shook her head as she watched Soo-hyun blinking.

“That’s a really troublesome area.”

Jacqueline knew a lot about the background that Soo-hyun had chosen.

“It’s ugly and dangerous. Chelsea residents have been calling for its demolition for some time.”

As Su-hyeon had guessed, the old overpass had been abandoned for a long time after it stopped operating in 1980.

“It was designed to be easy to load and unload cargo because it was a freight train route. In some sections, it even goes through the inside of buildings. Anyway, as the freight trucking industry grew, some sections were demolished, and now only about 2.4 km of the route remains.”

He said that it is possible to have various plants and shrubs growing and even wild animals running around.

The problem is that it is becoming a serious crime area.

“There were a couple of incidents where all sorts of thugs would gather and cause trouble. When something noisy happened, everyone naturally thought of Harlem. That place left an unforgettable warning to the people of New York.”

Jacqueline leaned back in her chair and told a story from the old days.

“It was in the 50s and 60s. When the refrigerator was invented, all the wealthy Jewish people in Harlem moved to the suburbs.”

Soo-Hyeon nodded as it was a story she had heard somewhere.

“When people had to buy groceries every day, it was natural to live in the city center near a grocery store, but with the advent of refrigerators, that was no longer necessary. Many people left Harlem for picturesque homes in the suburbs. As a result, the empty city became a den of the poor.”

Jacqueline remembered New York of those days clearly.

“Drugs, arson, murder. All kinds of crimes were rampant, so a war on crime was declared. Police cars were stationed in every alley, and a significant portion of the budget was spent on public safety. As a result, the policy worked, and fortunately, the city was reorganized. Oh, and Soo-hyun, have you ever heard of the broken windows theory?”

“Yes, I know.”

Su-hyeon nodded.

“If a single broken window is left unattended, it is interpreted as a signal that law and order are not being maintained, and it creates an environment where further disorder, that is, crime, is likely to occur.”

I remember seeing it in a documentary in the past.

It introduces the broken windows theory, which deals with the idea that when there is a strong bond and a watchful eye on one’s neighbors, it is difficult for outside criminals to take advantage.

“that’s right.”

Jacqueline nodded with her signature smile at Soo-hyun’s model answer.

“It’s a theory that came out a long time ago, but the mayor emphasized it a lot. Thanks to that, it became famous again.”

“Is this the mayor?”

“Giuliani, former New York mayor before Bloomberg.”

Jacqueline continued her explanation, pondering how she could help Soo-hyun quickly and easily understand the history of New York, the emotions inherent in its people, and the powers that be within the city.

“Actually, it wasn’t just Harlem that was giving New Yorkers a headache. What about the New York subway in the 80s? There was constant violence, drugs, looting, sexual crimes, and terrible accidents.”

“Ah. I see.”

“Giuliani, who was the mayor of New York at the time, started by erasing graffiti in subway stations that had become hotbeds of crime. This led to clashes with graffiti artists, but anyway, there were reports that the streets became cleaner and that the crime rate went down as petty crimes were strictly punished.”

“That’s similar to what happened when we revamped Harlem earlier.”

“that’s right.”

Jacqueline smiled with satisfaction as she watched Soo-hyun listen with interest to New York’s past, and finished her explanation.

“It’s for this very reason that Chelsea’s High Line is such a hot potato.”

“Hot potato?”

“Most New Yorkers see the old elevated highways in the same context as Harlem and the subway system. They see them as dangerous and need to be managed and cleaned up. It’s partly for safety reasons, but it’s also partly about vested interests.”

“Hmm.”

Su-hyeon, who had been thinking for a moment, opened her mouth.

“Is there anything that has been decided administratively?”

“Not yet.”

Jacqueline answered briefly and then elaborated.

“Actually, there is a strange difference in position.”

“Is it a difference in position?”

“Former Mayor Giuliani eventually signed off on a project to tear down the old overpass, but current Mayor Bloomberg is delaying its implementation.”

“Does this mean a different position?”

“Bloomberg did say he wanted to hear more alternatives.”

“So you’re saying it’s on hold anyway?”

Su-hyeon nodded.

It was difficult to read the political relationships or policies of the previous mayor and the current mayor.

However, judging from the few times I’ve met Bloomberg, I think he might be more inclined to wait for other possibilities, such as ways to change the building to a different use, rather than just tearing it down.

He was a mayor who wanted New York to become more of a city of art, and he was a person who did not spare support for any project he thought would work.

“Then wouldn’t it be something worth trying?”

Actually, there is an easier way: give up the high price and look for another area.

But Soo-Hyeon definitely wanted to build a piece at that high price.

It seemed like the perfect place, the perfect fit for the theme of a crash landing, perhaps the only place on Earth.

So Soo-hyun carefully expressed her opinion.

Of course, it wasn’t like I was crying blindly.

Urban regeneration project.

Although it is still a time when the concept has not been properly established, it is a movement that will soon become active as many cases are reported.

Su-hyeon thought that even the old high-rise buildings in New York could be reborn.

Didn’t the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail in Seoul shed its eerie old appearance and become a cultural zone rather than a crime-ridden area?

What about Cheonggyecheon?

Something similar could easily happen in New York.

No, it could have happened in the past. I just didn’t know because Soo-hyun wasn’t in New York at the time.

If that’s the case, why hesitate? It’s going to be a good thing, so shouldn’t we lend a helping hand without hesitation?

“Well, there is a group.”

Jacqueline, who saw Soo-hyun somewhat determined, walked towards the desk and rummaged through the drawers for a while.

And then.

“Oh, here it is.”

I picked out two business cards from a crowded business card holder.

“When was it? Last fall, I think. I got it at a civic event. It’s the business card of a representative of a civic group opposing the demolition of the High Line. Why don’t you talk to him? He might give you some hints.”

“Oh. Thank you.”

Su-hyeon quickly got up from her seat and received the business card from Jacqueline.

“I will have the gallery make suggestions to the market right away. In the meantime, Soo-hyun, study this area a bit more. Your perspective may change as you broaden your horizons.”

“yes.”

“I also ask you not to push yourself too hard. I’m telling you to exchange opinions via email and if you don’t like it, just stop.”

“Yes? Are you folding it?”

“It is a place that I would like to visit in terms of the inspiration it gave to Soo-hyun, but it is also a place where many difficulties are depicted.”

“Yes. First, I need to try communicating with these people.”

Su-hyeon nodded, looking at the name written on the business card.

***

“I did receive it though.”

Su-hyeon returned home and sighed deeply.

Name, contact information, and organization logo.

There was no information on the business card other than that the owner was the head of a private organization opposing the demolition of the elevated road.

“What kind of hints can I get?”

In fact, Jacqueline gave me enough information today.

Just as New York’s troubled areas of the past were being cleared, old high-rise buildings are being seen as something to be cleared away.

However, a private organization has come forward to oppose the demolition of the elevated road, and the decision is being postponed.

The structure could be easily guessed from past cases.

There are those who want to preserve the legacy of the past and those who want to develop something new.

The powers that be will be divided between residents and investors, and the opinions of both sides will be sharp.

However, Mayor Bloomberg, who is in charge of executing the project, is delaying the decision on this matter day after day…

“I just thought it would be a perfect place to have a ‘Crash Landing’ exhibition.”

As it turned out, it was a space where complex interests were intertwined.

“Phew.”

Su-hyeon sighed deeply and shook her head.

If I were true to my extremely introverted nature, I would have taken a step back and asked the gallery to handle the necessary procedures on my behalf.

but.

“There must be a reason why Jacqueline asked me to contact you.”

After watching each other closely for over a year, Jacqueline knew a lot about Soo-hyun without even saying anything.

It is also natural to know that it is difficult to interact with strangers.

There was no way Soo-hyeon didn’t know that occasionally interfering in other people’s business and helping them out was not just meddling, but an incredible amount of courage.

However, it was clear that there was a meaning behind the fact that he insisted on giving her a business card and asking her to communicate directly that Soo-hyeon didn’t realize.

“Phew.”

Su-hyeon, who had been fiddling with her business card for a while, pressed the power button on her laptop.

Wheeing-.

Su-hyeon quickly double-clicked on the Internet icon on the desktop of the laptop that was running.

Knock knock.

Su-hyeon entered the email address on the business card and began writing a short email.

-Hello. I am a writer named Han Su-hyeon.

I was thinking about doing an exhibition with the old elevated road in Chelsea as the backdrop. As I was trying to figure out how to do it, I found out that the area was having a public hearing about the demolition issue and there were two opposing views.

I think that old expensive houses can be places that can make many people feel new emotions.

If you share the same sentiment, I’d like to talk about it.

“Is this enough?”

Su-hyeon tilted her head, corrected a few expressions, and then pressed the send button.

And then, the next afternoon.

“… … .”

Su-hyeon was walking slowly once more along the overpass she had visited the day before.

Because Jacqueline had been warning me so much, I wasn’t alone today, but with a group.

“I guess it’s not unfair to be nagged.”

Steve muttered as he made his way through the trees that stretched out here and there.

“Well, I’d rather not come at night. Actually, I’ve heard a few ghost stories too.”

“Is it even possible to hold an exhibition here? Even if we install the artwork, the road to get there is too rough.”

Steve, Humphrey, and Henry went together, excluding Jerome, who was sick, and his friends in Korea who had other plans.

“Weigh the pros and cons carefully, Soo-hyun. Clever writers would make different choices if given similar conditions to Soo-hyun.”

Henry said, stepping mercilessly on the protruding branches with his shoe.

“What choice?”

“So, um. I’m saying that we’re going to focus on what kind of work will sell.”

Henry says what he wants to say while sneaking a peek.

Of course, it would be difficult for individuals to own a structure built in such a place. It might be possible for millionaires or billionaires to own it, but it was unclear whether they would be interested in a large-scale work by a new artist.

Anyway, Henry looked worried that Soo-hyun, who was holding her first solo exhibition in New York, would do something wrong. But.

“Still, there’s nothing I can do.”

Soo-hyeon had made up her mind.

“I came back and became more confident.”

It was at that time that Soo-Hyeon was looking at the high price.

“Is this Su-hyeon?”

Two men walked from the opposite direction.