THE CHAIRS
Ignacio The Living Art - Unique and Mythical Piece of Art
A small art studio that sells highly expensive artwork. It always opens when employees finish work and is located in a dimly lit narrow alley in London, next to a deep-fried calamari fast food shop. The place never changes and is always conservative.
A carved wooden sign with engraved letters hangs on the wall, and there's a magically impressive automatic door without visible infrared sensors. Straight down the staircase hallway and under dim yellow lights, you arrive at the reception desk. In the middle of the reception desk, there are two separated wall colors, indicating two doors. On the left side, there's a yellow wall for sculptural art, while on the right side, a white wall for paintings. That's the first question the receptionist asks anyone who comes in.
"I want to take a look at the sculptural art!" protested a man in his 60s. He wore long black jeans and a checkered brown wool jacket. Just from his forceful tone, his almost inverted triangular eyebrows, and his rapid and light finger tapping, it was clear that he was in a hurry.
"Sorry, sir, but we are still preparing-"
"Well, in that case, I'll take my leave."
The old man was about to turn around, but the receptionist woman stopped him by all means necessary.
"Oh, please wait a moment, sir! Let me call the manager," the receptionist woman, who normally appeared like a 'statue' without expression, now seemed flustered facing this old man. She hurriedly reached for her cellphone in her pocket, her face filled with anxious expressions, and dialed her manager.
"It should be expedited, miss," he added, muttering to himself. Perhaps only he could hear the muttering, "Hah, young people nowadays probably don't know who I am!"
The receptionist woman received another scolding from the manager while on the phone. She immediately hung up.
"P-please, sir!"
"Thank you."
The 60-year-old man walked with an upright posture, displaying the strength of his body at his age. As he reached for the door in the yellow wall, he momentarily turned to look at the receptionist woman. The receptionist woman appeared shocked, wiping sweat off her forehead. From the movement of her breath, her trembling hands, and her rapid blinking, the old man turned around.
"Here, a treat for you." He casually placed a 100-pound note nearby. When the receptionist was about to express her gratitude, the 60-year-old man had already left.
The 60-year-old man walked through the dim hallway, just like the staircase he descended. Once again, as a 60-year-old man, he seemed healthy. He even walked quite swiftly without any walking aids and all by himself.
From his perspective, he quickly opened the frosted glass door.
"Huh? I thought Vincenzo was here?" asked the 60-year-old man, sounding confused. His tone was filled with disappointment.
In front of him stood a woman estimated to be in her 50s or older, wearing a tuxedo with long white trousers and a monocle on the left side of her eye.
"Vincenzo is currently in a painting session, sir. I believe you have made a purchase from us some time ago, Mr. Bastian," she said.
"Did Vincenzo leave a message for you?"
The woman in her 50s approached. Unlike the cheerful and enthusiastic Vincenzo she knew, this woman had a serious expression.
"Well, that's part of the procedure," she added, pausing briefly. She gazed at the man, as if scrutinizing him. As if searching for someone. "The brown checkered wool jacket, long black jeans, and the name Bastian... it triggers my knowledge. If there's Bastian, there should be two other names. Irving and Karl..."
"Well, I must say I feel quite nostalgic! We were indeed very close even long after the breakup...."
"The songs by The Bears still sound great even now. Besides, I grew up listening to those songs. Welcome, Mr. Bastian of The Bears!" The woman displayed a professional smile as she bowed respectfully. "I am Sigismunda, the manager of sculptural art. It is an honor to meet a member of The Bears!"
After returning to her position, Sigismunda, the 50-year-old woman, offered her hand for a handshake.
The man, who had been in a rush earlier, now relaxed the muscles on his face.
"Oh, wow, I didn't expect you to recognize me." Bastian gladly shook Sigismunda's hand.
"And 'Kolibri' and 'Menunggu Penantian' are my two favorites, sir!"
They chatted for a while.
The Bears was a three-member band that dominated the music scene for teenagers. Essentially, they were a boy band adored for their melancholic and spirited songs, such as the titles mentioned by Sigismunda, "Kolibri!" The song tells the story of the three friends conversing on a terrace while watching hummingbirds. Their hearts feel joyful and enthusiastic as they observe the birds in flight.
On the other hand, the song titled "Waiting for waiting" is actually the opposite of "Kolibri!" It portrays three chairs that were frequently used for their gatherings, now empty and sometimes occupied by only one person. The song became the final symbol that The Bears disbanded after seven years of success.
The three members are called The Bears because their clothing reinforces a bear-like character, and they genuinely liked using that name. Irving is a character in the band, with a calm demeanor and a mediator between the other two. Irving is the oldest among them. Meanwhile, Karl is the joker in the group. Lastly, Bastian is the logical and hot-tempered character.
Karl passed away at the age of 26, one year after The Bears disbanded due to a heart attack. Meanwhile, Irving was in a coma at the hospital, and he was approaching Mr. Bastian's age, albeit being a few years older.
"Let's get straight to the point, Miss Munda," Mr. Bastian paused and stared seriously at the woman manager named Sigismunda. He stopped and glanced at all the sculptures present. "Did Vincenzo tell me that he has something related to my needs?"
"Yes, all the details are here." Sigismunda pointed to her temple. "However, I need the specific details of the issue."
Mr. Bastian remained silent for a moment, seeming reluctant to comment on that. He was then invited for a small stroll to observe. Meanwhile, Sigismunda provided explanations to Bastian.
"As you know, we only display five artworks each day, whether it's sculptures or paintings. They change daily; that's the rule. Since you may be someone special to Vincenzo, today we have a special sculpture theme displayed for you, which is 'Time and Memories.' Another rule is that I am not allowed to introduce the details of all the products except for one that captivates your heart the most. An artwork will choose its buyer naturally, that's usually how it goes. Because we sell a living artwork, you surely understand what we mean."
Bastian didn't answer immediately; instead, he looked around first.
The place was narrow but spacious enough for the two of them to walk comfortably. After all, there were only five items on display. The five objects were:
A mirror. Bastian briefly glanced at himself in the mirror. For some reason, it touched his heart a little. Then he shifted his attention to the other objects.
A human-sized wall clock. The pendulum on the clock momentarily reminded them of their vacation in Hawaii. At that time, Irving had a strong desire to buy a human-sized wall clock. Meanwhile, Karl joked that Irving could secretly hide a girl inside it.
An hourglass. When Bastian asked about the item, Sigismunda only answered that it was the "Nilfheim Hourglass." It appeared to be an ordinary antique hourglass. Sigismunda explained briefly that the sand inside the hourglass could change color, representing day and night.
A wooden box. It was a wooden box with unique and abstract carvings. Bastian considered buying it. However, once again, his heart didn't resonate to take the item home. He was genuinely intrigued, but his heart hadn't been deeply moved.
Three wooden chairs. Bastian turned the three ordinary and simple wooden chairs. The chairs had two arms and a crisscross backrest. When he squinted his eyes, he noticed mischievous scribbles that said, "Please have a seat here!"
"I think it's this one, Miss Munda."
"Hm... The Chairs..." Sigismunda closed her eyes for a moment.
"You should know what you're doing, right?" Bastian expected her to understand that the moment there was one item that touched his heart. Bastian was well aware of that rule, and being someone special to Vincenzo was not easy.
"Indeed, Mr. Bastian. Well..." Sigismunda slowly opened her eyes with a hint of skepticism and reluctance to explain. "The Chairs... a work by Salvaza Dumont, dated 1639, during the golden era of artists in the Netherlands. Miss Dumont can be considered quite famous and successful at that time. She was of French-Italian descent and tried her luck in the Netherlands with two of her friends. They struggled together from scratch, buying a house and a small studio for themselves. Salvaza Dumont's final work was actually a playful creation. Considering that her two friends were still struggling with what they had achieved, Salvaza Dumont had achieved what she desired. So, she stayed alone in that house, reminiscing. They used to spend time together on the terrace in the evenings, watching birds, and it made Salvaza sad because of her loneliness..."
Listening to that, the face of the 60-year-old man turned melancholic. Mr. Bastian caressed the chair as if he were caressing the head of a girl named Salvaza Dumont.
"Then what happened to this woman?"
"Well, she was a recluse, Mr. Bastian. Salvaza Dumont also had no relatives. There are rumors that one of the villagers seeking advice on art noticed Salvaza Dumont had passed away while sitting in that chair. Some also say that Salvaza Dumont committed suicide by drinking poison and was found near this chair. However, it is clear that The Chairs were never officially sold to the public. It is our relatives from Ignacio Studio who have this peculiar hobby. Well, although none of our artworks are sold publicly, at least each artist has promoted their works. Except for this one..."
"Eh? Why is that? What does it mean?"
Sigismunda fell silent for a moment. She turned away with a slightly displeased expression.
"Because The Chairs, they are still incomplete... No, The Chairs will never be perfect."
Hearing that, Mr. Bastian was now even more inclined to purchase the chair. Perhaps there was a connection between him and The Chairs.
"Mr. Bastian, why don't you just visit your grandchildren and children at their homes?" Sigismunda asked, attempting to change the subject. It was because Bastian was the only living and healthy member of The Bears. The Bears had always been Sigismunda's favorite.
"Well, um... I am satisfied with seeing their smiling faces. Besides, they're all busy!" Bastian's response sounded bored and lacked enthusiasm.
"You could also travel around the world with the money you earned as an artist, couldn't you?"
"I'm not sure. Well, to be precise, you're mistaken. I've lost interest, and at my age, I have visited every country in the world, except for the North and South Poles. I don't know why, but there's still something missing within me..."
Sigismunda was about to offer another argument, but Mr. Bastian interrupted her with his own words.
"I've lived for a long time, Miss Munda. Now listen, and this is only for your ears. My regret all this time is that I wanted to have a longer conversation with Karl and Irving when we sat together and chatted. I miss those moments when we would talk and rehearse the song 'Kolibri!' But what I regret even more is that after we released our final song, we sat together and talked for the last time. Irving said he wanted to start a family and fly to Australia, while Karl said he wanted to go solo. At that time, Karl insulted us by saying that we were a burden. As someone who is partly a fan, you know I have a fiery temper, and that's true, I was angry with him. But I didn't know why he said such things. And what makes me regret even more is that I didn't have a chance to apologize when he passed away one year later..."
With Mr. Bastian's decision, Sigismunda sighed as if she had reached a dead end. Moreover, Sigismunda, who had been a fan of The Bears for years, knew Bastian's character well. Bastian was a man who easily got emotional but always regretted it once he had let out his emotions. He had shown this in a past interview, discussing how he would get angry at Karl's jokes during serious moments.
"Alright... As I've said, The Chairs are an incomplete creation. Maybe you're wondering why they are being sold? As we always say, according to our motto, the artwork will choose its buyer on its own. Since we know that some of them will be chosen by you, it doesn't hurt to not sell them. The problem is, personally, I have no idea what will happen after you sit in this chair..."
One of Mr. Bastian's eyebrows raised. "Well, is there no other explanation for this?"
"Hm... if we connect it to Salvaza Dumont, perhaps it can meet your expectations... The superstition is that you must stand up immediately after your dream comes true. Other than that, I have no information about it,"
"Alright, no problem." Mr. Bastian didn't hesitate any longer and reached into his wallet to find his debit card. "I hope this is still within my budget. How much is it?"
"Well, Mr. Bastian. Since this is an incomplete artwork, we cannot simply sell it to you. Perhaps we should first try whether it works or not. Once that is proven, then the transaction is successful. It's only around, um... 200,000 pounds. Besides, you are the first buyer in centuries,"
"Sounds reasonable. With you assuming whether 'this object works or not,' is it really- um...?"
"Hahaha, you're not a new customer of Ignacio Studio, are you?" she added. "Please have a seat. Especially on the part with the mischievous scratches,"
"Heh, you know I don't like being teased, right?" he said so, although Mr. Bastian would still sit down. "No red candles this time, Miss Munda?"
"For this one, no need. You just need to sit and think about the memories you want to encounter once again. The key is to sit and engage in conversation. That way, the procedure will go smoothly."
Sigismunda, who was about to leave to prepare the payment receipt, paused as Mr. Bastian called her.
"What was that superstition again?"
"As soon as your goal is fulfilled, please stand up from the chair. I will step out briefly to write the receipt and arrange for the delivery service to bring the item to your address. Farewell, the legend, Mr. Bastian of The Bears,"
The room was now only occupied by Mr. Bastian. Alone and looking around. The other two chairs were still empty. But Mr. Bastian remained seated. He briefly doubted Sigismunda's words. However, Mr. Bastian had no choice. He then focused his mind. Mr. Bastian recalled what he cherished in the past. The time when they composed the song "Kolibri!" and the moments when The Bears would disband.
He quickly leaned back on the wooden chair in the shape of an "X," with his hands on the chair's arms. Then he lowered his gaze as if his expression turned sad. He glanced up at the ceiling, his eyes blinking rapidly. Then he looked to the right and left, the chair once again empty.
"Huh? Was I not focused enough? Nothing happened?" he thought. Then he refocused for the umpteenth time.
This time, Mr. Bastian was genuinely sincere.
Then he lowered his gaze, and in an instant, the studio floor, adorned with a carpet, transformed into a simple white marble terrace floor. As he looked up, he saw the roof of a house and a hummingbird flying into the blue sky. Then he heard the sound of a gentle breeze blowing.
Mr. Bastian was startled as he glanced to the right and left. It turned out Irving was holding his cigarette, leaning casually. Meanwhile, Karl's gaze was focused on the newspaper. On this bright day, suddenly there was a table filled with three cups of coffee.
A genuine smile began to spread across Mr. Bastian's face. Tears of longing even welled up slowly in his eyes. It was an expression he had never shown before.
"Hah, Irving, quickly bring a diaper for Bastian! He's crying, hahaha!" Karl's voice started bantering, mocking.
Normally, Bastian would get angry in such a situation, but not this time. Instead, Mr. Bastian cried even more. He cried tears of joy because they were finally having a conversation together.
Now, the three of them resumed their conversation just as Mr. Bastian had dreamed of. The conversation grew deeper and deeper. Mr. Bastian never imagined that what had been missing from him all this time was this moment, where the three of them gathered again, returning to their youthful days.
The conversation seemed to make time lose its awareness due to the sheer enjoyment. Mr. Bastian had also apologized to Karl. However, Irving and Karl excused themselves to go to the restroom for a moment.
And for who knows how long, Mr. Bastian continued to wait.
And for who knows how long, those two chairs were once again empty.
And for who knows how long, Mr. Bastian finally became aware of what he had forgotten due to his old age. What he had forgotten from having too much fun for too long. What he had forgotten, that he had made a big mistake silently within The Bears, leading to their disbandment. What he had long forgotten, greed.
What he had forgotten, that he should stand up as soon as possible after sitting.
The door of the art studio opened, and Viscenzo and Sigismunda entered. They were two contrasting managers, each with their own character. Like black and white, just like the tuxedos they wore. Between their enthusiastic and humorous yet serious attitudes. Between woman and man.
"Sigismunda, are you sure this is the best? Hehehe, it seems the chair is more intact than before?"
Sigismunda didn't answer right away. They now approached the chair together. Vincenzo, a man in his 50s wearing a black tuxedo, took a very bright flashlight from his tuxedo pocket.
When the flashlight was turned on, on the middle chair, where there was a mischievous inscription that said "please sit here!", a human shadow now appeared. Meanwhile, on the right chair, the same inscription appeared.
"We need two more..." He closed his eyes and sighed. Without wasting any time, he immediately left the place to do something else.
"Waaaah, I thought you would be sadder than this. Hm... what happened?" Vincenzo's expression and tone were always enthusiastic and now even a bit giggly.
Sigismunda paused for a moment.
"I am sad, you know..." Sigismunda sighed. "Well, besides, do you remember the massive corruption case in The Bears?"
"Hooooh... If I'm not mistaken, at that time... it was one of the men, I mean, their manager, right? He was executed! Wow, it's really frightening~" Although he said so, it seemed that Vincenzo was only joking and laughing to himself.
"That's right..." she murmured before leaving. "Strangely enough, after that incident, Karl never appeared on television again..."
Sigismunda then walked out and passed through the dimly lit corridor.
'How is it that eventually a person can forget their sins through the most complicated route,' she pondered deeply and kept walking. 'And how, even sins remind him again through a complicated route as well,'
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