The Road to Duende

The story opens in a bustling Japanese city, bustling with activity and speed as the final days of the late Renaissance period come to an end. Akari has just completed her apprenticeship as a painter and is trying to make it as an independent artist in the competitive scene, but her principles are often at odds with the others’ crassness and carelessness. Despite her uprising, her works remain profitless. Her only solace is in her works and friendship with a strange, monk-like figure whose existence remains a mystery.

Meanwhile across Japan, in a small town along the coast, lay Junichi. He had recently turned to sculpting in hopes of escape from his debilitating lifestyle as a philanderer and alcoholic. All attempts at discipline have failed him, and yet, he continues scraping by on odd jobs here and there. But his attention soon turns to the universe of art when a strange man comes to town and promises him wealth, women, and artistic gratification.

The two protagonists fatefully intersect at a gallery in the city, where Akari finds a sculpture that looks suspiciously familiar. She learns that Junichi is the sculptor, and a childhood from the distant past slowly resurfaces in the forefront their minds. It slowly comes to light that the two used to be inseparable friends as children, and now as young adults, they’re connected through their works. Still, only once the wild Junichi is tamed and the prim Akari unleashes her more playful self can the two begin to re-discover the spirit of their duende (the art of drawing inspiration from nature).

It’s during this period that a mysterious benefactor reaches out with an ultimatum they will be sent across Asia to aid in restoring artistic masterpieces that have been ravaged by time. In doing so, they become unwittingly embroiled in a battle with a local crime boss at odds with the same benefactor, who seeks to use the venture to find his own solution to his problems.

Made aware of his ploy by the benefactor, Akari and Junichi learn to draw ever-greater amounts of inspiration from the nature, culture and history around them as they paint, sculpt and perform their way through the task at hand. Yet their prowess and creative output results in the quick and violent backlash of the crime boss, who will stop at nothing to keep them from crossing the line. His favor in the community and resources puts them in all sorts of dangerous positions as they attempt to stay one step ahead and bring the project to completion.

In the end, it all boils down to a confrontation where the duo must not just call on their combined skills and experience, but on the creative inspiration brought about by the force of their combined d’uende. As they struggle to utilize the energy of their uniqueness together, their opponents look on in undying awe and admiration. In the end, the duo triumph with a strength and harmony that carries on far beyond the physical existences and permeates all creation with their unique duende.

And thus concludes the story, as their tale and work of art becomes a beacon for others who will seek a similar success in the form of self-created art.