Yeong-shin Ma: ‘Upon A Shifting Plate’
Specially commissioned for Frieze Week, the Seoul-born graphic novelist offers a new episode in the life of Kwak Kyeongsu: socialite, crypto-investor and (sometimes) painter
Specially commissioned for Frieze Week, the Seoul-born graphic novelist offers a new episode in the life of Kwak Kyeongsu: socialite, crypto-investor and (sometimes) painter
Panel 1: [Artist. Lecturer at an art university.] Mr. Kwak recently made some money from cryptocurrency. “If things keep up like this...”
Panel 2: “...I might just hit financial freedom!” | Mr. Kwak began to feel more optimistic.
Panel 3: Even though Mr. Kwak’s mood has been at the mercy of the volatile crypto market...
Panel 4: ...he’s been feeling on top of the world lately. | “Who’s up for drinks right now?”
Panel 5: “Hey. What are you up to? Let’s go grab a drink.”| “Right now? I’m at work.”
Panel 6: “I can meet up over the weekends.”
Panel 7: “One does not schedule their drinking.” | Muahaha.
Panel 8: With his newfound wealth, Mr. Kwak relished in spontaneous drinking bouts with artists in Seoul. | “Hey, hang on a sec.”
Panel 9: “I’ll get you a used Mercedes, buddy.” | [Aspiring actor.]
Panel 10: “Really?” | “An actor should cruise around in a sleek car.” | Glug, glug, glug.
Panel 11: “Bro, you’re the best!” | “I got you.” | Bubble, bubble, bubble.
Panel 12: “Heh heh.”
Panel 13: And so, Mr. Kwak ditched his lectures, went on a bender and started talking big to everyone. | “I’ll get you a better camera.” | “Invite a few of your model friends over.” | [Photographer.]
Panel 14: “I’ll get you an air conditioner when you get married.” | “Invite a few of your actress friends over.” | [Independent film director.]
Panel 15: “You want a speaker? You got it.” | “Invite over some female webtoon artists you know.” | [Cartoonist.]
Panel 16: “With looks like yours, it’d be a crime not to pass on those genes.” | [Writer in her mid-30s.]
Panel 17: “I’ll cover the cost of freezing your eggs.” | “Whoa, you know it’s not cheap.”
Panel 18: “What about me, Kyeongsu?” | “Hey bro, we’ve got a gig at 1969 for our new album release. Come through.”
Panel 19: [Concert venue 1969.]
Panel 20: “Body lover~” | “...Lots of familiar faces here.” | Looking around.
Panel 21: “Encore! Encore!” | “Oh, come on, another encore?”
Panel 22: “The afterparty with the ladies is calling my name, though.”
Panel 23: Buzzing.
Panel 24: “There he goes, hogging all the girls for himself.” | “Bro, let’s go out for a smoke.”
Panel 28: “...Look at those little jerks acting like they don’t even see me.” | “Bro, what’d you say the budget is for my new speakers?”
Panel 29: “They used to suck up to me...”
Panel 30: [A few days later.]
Panel 31: “What the...”
Panel 32: Mr. Kwak’s cryptocurrency had tanked big time.
Panel 33: And just like his crypto had crashed, Mr. Kwak’s reputation quickly plummeted. | “Huh?”
Panel 34: “This dude unfollowed me already?”
Panel 35: Mr. Kwak attempted to fill the void by picking up his paintbrush...
Panel 36: ...but his creative enthusiasm quickly drained away.
Panel 37: Only to be replenished by new hopes and dreams. | “This new coin is going to blow Bitcoin out of the water!” | Pissing.
Further Information
Frieze Seoul, COEX, 4 – 7 September 2024.
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