Almighty painter

Chapter 333 The old man who knows how to do manicure

"What's going on outside?"

Cao Xuan adjusted the frame of the mirror, saw the noise at the door from the classroom window, and asked his assistant casually.

"Wait a moment... I'll talk to you later, I have something else to do."

He waved to Lao Yang, the assistant who was about to pack up the teaching aids, turned to look at a female student with chestnut hair wearing thick glasses, and asked with a smile: "I remember your name is Kleisel? You are an international student from France. "

"Yeah, Sasha Kreisel."

"I have the impression that he has a nice name and his grades are also good."

Female student Sasha didn't expect that a great artist like Cao Xuan could really remember her name. Even her eyes, which were usually shy and not good at communicating with others under the thick lenses, brightened a little.

"I am a single-parent family, living in the countryside of Provence. I have taken my mother's surname since I was a child. Kreisel is my grandfather's surname, surname, surname..."

The female student was a little nervous and introduced herself in a panic.

Halfway through, I suddenly remembered that a big shot like Mr. Cao had no time to listen to her talking about such messy trivial matters. I felt that I had messed up this rare private communication, and I became even more flustered.

The artistic girl, who was already a little timid, lowered her head and looked at her toes. She was so nervous that she stumbled over her words.

"Relax, little girl. I think I behave quite amiably in class. Do I look scary?"

Mr. Cao Xuan was used to such scenes and smiled helplessly.

"No, no, no, it's just me, I, I admire you."

"Then raise your head and speak. As the only one in today's class who can remember the four-character inscription 'to be mutual in the future' in "Chickens Fighting for Earthworms" painted by Qi Baishi, and the 'nature' contained in the Eastern philosopher Xunzi Students of evil's worldview, you deserve this private conversation."

After the art practitioners in the world become famous.

As long as you think about it, you can almost easily get a job as a professor in an art or music school.

This is similar to the fact that after some economists win the Nobel Prize, many of them can be appointed as visiting professors or honorary professors in seven or eight universities or MBAs around the world.

These titles are almost always empty.

They won't really devote themselves to research or teaching work. Some of the few lectures every year are even held online, and they can just read the manuscript for a few minutes.

A few more golden signs on the school's admissions page can attract high-quality students, and scholars can get a few more honorary titles and a few extra salaries to have sex for free.

Take what you need, get the best of both worlds.

Uncle Sakai is a professor at Tama Academy of Art, but at his senior level, the school almost never assigns him any teaching tasks, and rarely selects students from Tama Academy to teach.

Just spend money to respect the big Buddha in the town courtyard.

Only when invitations were sent to projects by name, such as the Shwedagon Pagoda at the beginning of the year, and for which Uncle Sakai himself seemed interesting, would he be willing to condescend to move his [-]-pound body and lead a group in the name of the school.

in the entire Japanese literary and artistic circle.

The celebrity who has the best reputation, is said to have the highest artistic ethics, and is the most serious in his work is the godfather of Asian rock king Shinji Tanimura.

One of the most talked-about deeds of Mr. Tanimura is that after he received the title of honorary professor of the Dongxia Magic City Music College in [-], he really started to take the initiative to prepare lessons and teach in the Magic City. student.

Known as a model of "both virtue and art".

Mr. Cao is also a person with both virtue and art.

He has the temperament of an old-school Eastern traditional scholar-official. People of his generation attach great importance to the title "teacher" and the meaning it represents.

A teacher for one day, a father for life.

This is a sacred and inviolable relationship for both teachers and students.

At the end of the 90s.

His second disciple, Lin Tao, was riding on the rapid economic development of East Xia and was busy making money. He agreed to become a professor at Central Academy of Fine Arts, and all he wanted was to have a title. Outside, he was called Professor Lin or Teacher Lin.

Just mess around with the course.

As a result, when Mr. Cao found out about this incident, he called Lin Tao over and gave him a scolding speech. He was also in his thirties, and he was almost scolded to tears by Mr. Cao.

A great painter who was already well-known in Asia was forced to be disciplined by Mr. Cao like a child, and stood facing the wall all night.

the next day.

Professor Lin Tao flew back to the capital and began preparing to take charge of a studio next semester and teach students full-time.

You know, at that time Gagosian's agent had already begun to have contact with Lin Tao.

For this teaching position at CAFA, he disrupted all his career plans.

Therefore, he gave up the opportunity to go on a European tour to make money, and perhaps also gave up the opportunity to become the first Eastern Xia painter representing a milestone in the history of Gagosian Gallery.

He may have missed [-] million.

Judging from Gagosian's world-leading publicity and marketing capabilities, it is estimated that a genuine [-] million is available. Whether the unit is RMB or US dollars is hard to say.

Professor Lin also regretted it, but Mr. Cao didn't allow it.

He did not force Lin Tao to sign the contract, but since he agreed to be a teacher, he must take care of the students in a down-to-earth manner. This is a matter of principle.

The Academy of Fine Arts in Hamburg invited Mr. Cao to be the department chair just because they wanted to soak up the celestial spirit of this top-notch person in Asia.

Who dares to assign teaching indicators to such an old man who is almost a hundred years old?
Go crazy.

If something goes wrong in class and a student gets angry, who will be responsible?Who dares to bear it?
A big boss like Mr. Cao would like to have a security team following him every step of the way. If he can hold a lecture for a thousand people every semester, the school feels it is worth the money.

Faced with the invitation, Mr. Cao thought and hesitated for nearly a year.

When he really agreed and came to Germany, the school realized that all their efforts and waiting were worth it.

It's more than worth it, it's like a treasure.

Mr. Cao Xuan really wanted to be a teacher. During the year of thinking, Mr. Cao spent his time compiling the "Lecture Notes on Asian Art" for a whole year.

Think about how to tell Eastern art to the world.

Once this course was taught, the old man taught it for five or six years.

Students also like this approachable old gentleman very much. The quality of art students who can be admitted to the Hamburg Academy of Fine Arts is not too bad.

Everyone likes that there is a world-renowned oriental painter in their school.

Cao Xuan is like a walking mascot in the school.

Princeton University is proud to have had Einstein, and the Royal College of Art is proud to have Jonathan Ive, the chief designer of the world's most valuable Apple Group, as its honorary dean.

HFBK also has the head of their painting department, artist Cao Xuan.

The school and the students have formed a wonderful tacit understanding. When they meet Professor Cao Xuan on campus, the students will spontaneously keep quiet, and no one will run over and disturb Mr. Cao's daily life.

Students even took the initiative to intercept tourists or reporters who wanted to sneak into the campus to visit this great artist.

It's definitely not that the children here don't value Mr. Cao.

Based on Cao Xuan's social status.

Thirty years ago, there was no need to rely on seeing an idol singer’s impulsive fans shouting enthusiastically or the 30-hour flashing spotlight to prove his success.Cao Xuan is the unique Cao Xuan.

This ordinary way of getting along with each other and the students' willingness to take the initiative to leave enough privacy and thinking space for the elderly are the highest courtesy and protection these art students have for Professor Cao Xuan.

However, Cao Xuan is not really an ordinary person after all.

After the class is over.

There will always be countless students standing next to the podium with homework books and portfolios, asking him questions for various reasons.

The students knew that the old professor in front of them had achieved almost all the achievements a painter could dream of.

They hope to get the opportunity to interact directly with Mr. Cao.

You can even get an autograph from Mr. Cao Xuan as a souvenir.

This may be the closest opportunity for an art student to get close to art history. I guess the physics students at Princeton at that time also treated their Einstein in this way.

Mr. Cao is also a very interesting old man.

He stopped Lao Yang, who would have a nervous heart attack every time he saw Mr. Cao surrounded by a group of students at close range. He repeatedly hoped to communicate with the school and suggested that security guards be stationed in the classroom or police cordons be drawn up.

Surrounded by the cordon can only be the Buddha who is far away from the mortal world.

Only teachers who are warm, close to students' lives, and "popular" can influence the lives and lives of students and teach lessons into the hearts of children.

He, Cao Xuan, wanted to be a great Buddha, and he could be anywhere in the world, so ethereal and unattainable.

Why go to a university art academy to be a professional?

Cao Xuan solved this problem with a random method.

He made three arrangements with all the students who applied for the "Asian Art History" course.

Before the start of a semester.

The old man would publish a long reading list and dozens of the most representative art works in the history of Eastern Xia, from the Wei and Jin Dynasties to the present, as course expansion materials for these European students.

Every week during class, Mr. Cao would randomly select some questions from these lists and ask them.

Perhaps it is to list the names of the ten most important painters in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, perhaps to talk about the origins and artistic styles of Vietnamese silk painting and Eastern Xia silk painting, or to ask how Yan Zhenqing became one of the most important figures in Eastern Xia history. The only calligrapher whose reputation can rival Wang Xi...

Among the submitted answers, the person with the best answer will be able to have a private chat with Mr. Cao after class, and will receive an autograph as a gift.

None of these questions are difficult.

There is no special mystery. If you are not interested enough in oriental art and have spent time reading a lot of expansion materials after class, the answer will definitely not be that easy.

Today's course officially enters the trend of modern and contemporary Asian painting.Cao Xuan's class question only had one name "Qi Baishi", and asked the students to randomly select a work of Qi Baishi for artistic appreciation.

The female student wearing glasses had the best answer.

He even mentioned the character mentioned by Old Man Baishi next to two chickens fighting for earthworms to eat. He used the allusion of "fight today, protect each other tomorrow". He was not only painting chickens, but also all things. The path to the cultivation of virtue in living beings.

Mr. Cao Xuan admired it very much.

"You want a signature, right? Where can I sign it?" Mr. Cao asked.

The female student nodded fiercely, struggled to pull out a huge photo frame from her schoolbag, held it carefully to the old man, and asked expectantly: "Is it okay?"

"It turns out I came prepared." Mr. Cao smiled.

His autographs really sell for money.

When Mr. Cao made an agreement with the students in three chapters, they agreed.

The only requirement for this game is.

He will not sign any calligraphy and painting works, or posters with political or commercial propaganda purposes. If he signs a book, it can only be a school textbook.

Students also jumped at the chance to get autographs from great artists.

He showed his talents within the boundaries. During his teaching period, he signed his name on all kinds of strange things.

He signed leave requests, basketballs and footballs, and wrote blessings on love letters to students.

When Mr. Cao signed his name for the second time on the bare belly of a male student in the sculpture department.

A new agreement had to be added. If it were to be signed on the body, it could only be on the arms.

Assistant Lao Yang, who was taking off the computer from the projector and putting it away in his bag, took a look at the postcard greeting card in the large photo frame.

He curled his lips and said: "This kind of thing is not good. Who knows what you will go back and fill in on this blank postcard. Change it to a textbook. Come on, don't waste time. Mr. Cao has a very busy schedule, why don't you sign it? Never mind."

"Oh, oh, hug, sorry, I understand." The female student immediately lowered her head again, her neck turning red from embarrassment.

"Okay, don't scare the little girl, there is nothing wrong in class. I will sign autographs for my students, and I will judge for myself who you are."

Cao Laoqing glared at Lao Yang who interrupted, took the initiative to take the big photo frame, opened it from behind, took out the postcard, and said: "Who is this meant to be sent to, my boyfriend in France?"

"My mother's. She is also a fan of yours. Her birthday is next week, so..." the student girl explained.

[To Mrs. Kresser, you have a daughter who is excellent and studies seriously. I wish you a happy birthday and may all your wishes come true - Cao Xuan. 】

The old man nodded and already took out his pen and started writing quickly.

The student girl turned her head and glanced at the assistant uncle who looked awkward and unlikable, and then looked at the old professor next to her, with little stars of admiration floating in her eyes.

Mr. Cao was more approachable than she thought, simply, simply... The girl couldn't think of any good adjectives for a moment, she just thought how could there be such a nice and lovely old man?

She thinks Mr. Cao is too cool and stylish.

Even the gesture of signing with the pen is so handsome, even the nails holding the pen are...

"Hey, Professor, your fingertips are so beautifully manicured. Have they been painted with polish?" She couldn't help but asked curiously.

"One block to the west of the school, there is a nail salon next to the Neue Wall with good skills and very cheap prices. You can try it."

Mr. Cao took back his pen and said casually.

It is hard for ordinary people to imagine that such an old man can still do manicures, skin care, and even occasionally customize different wigs.

Except that he is over 90 years old, he is no different from many modern urban sophisticated boys.

After Lao Yang became Mr. Cao's assistant, he was so surprised that he discovered Mr. Cao Xuan's very "contrastingly cute" habits.

"I didn't expect the old man to be so trendy?"

"New trend? I had my nails done in Shanghai before liberation with the head of a foreign company. Why, I can't do it now that I'm old? I don't feel that old yet."

Mr. Cao lightly expressed his disdain for the assistant making a fuss.

Cao Xuan was very disgusted with the prejudiced impression that Asian artists were stereotyped, boring, slovenly, and unattractive old men.

Asian painters can also be very handsome and charming.

So in a sense, I heard that the kid from Yangon got Kazunari Sakai's beautiful daughter.Compared with his performance in the Shwedagon Pagoda project, Mr. Cao took a higher look.

(End of this chapter)