On I Live Alone, Kian84 confesses to close friend Kim Chung-jae that he is in a slump with his painting. Saying painting no longer brings him joy, Kian84 plans to return with Kim Chung-jae to the "art school oppa" who was full of excitement and romance and embark on a "Kian84-style search for his original intention," drawing attention.
On the 17th episode of MBC's I Live Alone (directed by Heo Hang, Kang Ji-hee, Kim Jin-kyung, Lee Kyung-eun, Moon Ki-young), Kian84 visits close friend Kim Chung-jae to seek advice about his worries.
While working intently with a brush in his studio, Kian84 repeatedly sighs as if dissatisfied. His expression, unable to fully concentrate on painting, grows darker with each brushstroke. He says, "My painting work hasn't been going well lately. It feels like I'm lost in a maze…" showing his frustration that things aren't coming together as he wishes.
A year and a half after his last solo exhibition, he says that despite continuing to work and not putting down the brush in various ways to get out of the slump, he remains unsatisfied, and even brings in paintings he spent months on only to cover them in white.
To break free from the frustration, Kian84 leaves his studio and heads somewhere. Saying it's "one of the things I worked hardest on in my life," he carries a large plaster cast and art materials to the studio of his longtime close friend, the "art school handsome guy" Kim Chung-jae. Kim Chung-jae greets Kian84's visit with a bright smile that melts the viewers' hearts.
Meeting the younger brother he missed and catching up, Kian84 suggests to Kim Chung-jae that they do a "plaster cast study" to rediscover the memories of their days at cram school and their original passion for drawing. Kim Chung-jae is momentarily surprised by the unexpected proposal, but soon smiles kindly and picks up a pencil with Kian84, placing the plaster cast between them.
In the released photos, the "art school oppa" Kian84 and Kim Chung-jae are seen sitting at easels drawing in a decalc; their poses are strikingly similar and draw attention. Focusing solely on the plaster cast and recalling their feelings from that time, the two raise curiosity about what emotions are contained in their paintings.
Kian84 also tells Kim Chung-jae naturally about his current feelings, saying, "I can't even draw for five hours these days. I don't enjoy painting." Kim Chung-jae, who listens silently and empathically to his worries, offers words of comfort and encouragement, drawing attention.
The heartwarming search for their original intention by Kian84 and Kim Chung-jae will be revealed on I Live Alone, which airs on the 17th at 11:10 p.m.
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