Significance of Jaeeon Being Scouted (10 August 21)

The scene of JE being scouted does a good job of telling the audience that he’s a talented artist (along with their TA’s comments about how lucky NB was to have him as an assistant) because the general audience (like myself) wouldn’t know good art if it slapped them in the face. 

Art is subjective/personal but the recognition of JE’s talent from fellow artists and scouts highlights @doramaticbites point that NB’s ex’s art is not nearly as good as he thinks it is. It also helps the audience distinguish between the manipulative/exploitative nature of NB and her ex’s relationship vs the feelings JE has for. Their true character is expressed through their artistic creations and will hopefully help Nabi see that the two men are not as similar as she might believe.

They both create “na-bi” (butterfly/na-bi the person) inspired art, but the intentions of the artist always shows their real intentions. Her ex’s art is straightforward, literally a sculpture of NB, but it tells us nothing about her as a human, instead showing us much more of the true nature of their relationship. It speaks of her ex’s manipulation and control and the sense of possession he felt over as a mere object of sexual gratification and ego boosting. He is full of hubris and arrogance, hence his creation. 

Whereas JE is a much harder person to read. We’ve been told that he’s very talented and passionate about his art many times, and we see his art as more interpretative at times, but also pure, delicate and pretty depictions of butterflies. I think that this speaks to who he is at heart. The things he makes for NB are vastly different from the interpretive, industrial sculptures he presents to the world but they both speak to his character as someone who is not willing to share all of himself to the world, but also a deeply insightful, inquisitive, observant person who is not as heartless as NB may think he is (though the same cannot necessarily he said towards his understanding of his own feelings). 

If we compare his work that he shows others vs the ones he makes just for NB, we are able to see the genuine feelings he has for NB. His artistic creations perhaps say more than he has ever said out loud. The contrast between the two art styles cannot be understated because the side that he shows NB is delicate, simple, and easily interpreted. 

It’s not any less artistic but a nice metaphor for the relationship between the two. NB doesn’t know everything that the viewers know, and she believes the worst in JE without hesitation, but he’s also unwilling to clarify or refute any misunderstandings. NB is so unsure of what JE’s true feelings or intentions are because he's never really laid them out for her. Even when he does, he does so in riddles and questions and NB is someone who seems only comfortable in taking things at face value, hence her struggles with her own artistic expression. The truth is there, but just like art, it’s all up to interpretation. Whether she sees it or is willing to believe it is another story but JE has never made it easy for her because of the walls he’s built up.

thisjieuns