Anything Goes : Has a work of art ever created a story within you? by Koby Nguyen

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share something personal that recently inspired my new animated romance project.

A few days ago, I bought a print from the Korean artist Seong Ryul.

The piece is called Water.

It moved me deeply, not just because of the colors, but because it awakened memories I thought I had forgotten.

In the artwork, there’s a man floating calmly in the water.

It reminded me of real moments from my past: quiet days by the river with a friend, the warmth of the sun on the water, that strange feeling of peace where time seems to stop.

I was in the exact same position as the figure in the painting.

From there, something happened.

As I looked through more of Seong Ryul’s works, often showing a boy and a girl, peaceful, suspended between dream and reality, stories began to appear in my mind effortlessly.

Every time I look at any artwork, whether it’s by Seong Ryul or another artist, entire films start forming behind it: scenes, shots, music, dialogue… all emerging naturally.

That’s how my new project was born:

“Our Steps Together, Even Without Wings.”

Just by looking at the print hanging in my room, imagining myself inside the painting, imagining the music, the colors, the framing… and letting my own memories blend with it.

For this project, the musical tone is inspired by Masakatsu Takagi’s “Nene” (from Wolf Children) and by Flawed Mangoes.

The artistic direction draws from Seong Ryul and the quiet emotional world he creates.

So I wanted to ask you all:

Has an artwork ever made a story appear inside you, naturally?

It could be anything —

a painting,

a photograph,

a piece of music,

even the way someone dresses or walks past you.

Seong Ryul once said that when he travels, he imagines a character in front of him and waits for the perfect moment to take a picture.

I do the same, except in my mind, there is always a camera following me.

What about you?

What sparks stories inside you?