Almighty painter

Chapter 396 World View (Additional update)

[Thanks again to the leader of RockRobot. Thank you so much! 】

"Mr. Kruger, have you ever thought about why it's not a professional financial team talking to you? Although I am responsible for daily business activities, given the size of this contract, Mr. Cao Xuan didn't even show his face. , just after a few phone calls, I grabbed a bag and ran over to have dinner with you. Do you feel in your heart that we are too careless here? "

Markets are like battlefields.

An art contract is a very complex transaction.

Especially when it comes to large contracts worth tens of millions of dollars or more.

The scene of the entire negotiation scene should theoretically be like the inside of a complex movement of a Swiss precision watch with hundreds of parts and escapement gears rotating together.

Accounting firms, law firms, financial experts...

From senior representatives to low-level clerks, there are huge teams on both sides fighting each other, stalemate, and grinding out the contract bit by bit. They even decide whether to perform certain environmental protection charity activities during the contract period, how many times to participate, and how many to pre-select.

Should we set up a charity fund in the name of the artist?

These small details that ordinary people would never think of would be clearly discussed.

Professor Sakai Kazunari's new contract has been in preliminary negotiations with all parties as early as two years ago. As of this year, a final conclusion has not yet been reached.

Back then, Gagosian Gallery maintained a long-term team of about 140 people, just to handle various contractual relationships with their signature artist, Damian Hirst.

Since "Oil Painting" magazine started contacting Cao Xuan.

Ole felt that the reaction from the other party was indifferent, and he seemed to be unmotivated, a bit like having his head shaved off and his head overheated.

It seems that he is not concerned about whether this contract can be concluded.

But this goes against business intuition.

"Oil Painting" was still worried and sent someone to check Cao Xuan's health to make sure that they would not sign this old guy and then die.

However, the Shwedagon Pagoda at the beginning of the year, the annual art meeting now, and the daily teaching work at the Hamburg Academy of Fine Arts... Cao Xuan attended many public events this year and looked lively, so the board of directors was relieved.

Ole could only comfort himself. After all, Cao Xuan was the only artist in this era who became famous without being packaged by a commercial gallery.

exactly.

Painters of his age are among the last group of painters in the world whose growing up years still bear the strong imprint of the nineteenth century, that is, the era of Monet and Renoir.

A remnant of the old days.

At that time, the level of commercial development in the art field was not even one-tenth of what it is today.

Even people like Picasso usually package the contracts and entrust them to their agents, assistants, familiar cousins, and accountant nephews, and forget about it.

It seems that Cao Xuan's team is like a grassroots team, which is understandable.

In addition, after all, it was just a preliminary cooperation intention, so Oler did not think deeply about it at the time.

Now think about it...

Sometimes, the difficulty is actually different between trying to impress a ninety-year-old man with benefits and impressing a young man in his twenties.

This is a peculiarity of the art industry, something that will never be taught in a business negotiation class at the University of Pennsylvania.

Young people, middle-aged people, even old men in their fifties and sixties.

You can talk to each other about the future, your ideals, your business plans, "Let's change the world together" and "Be passionate about your dreams!" on a private jet, on a blue water yacht, or with your arms around a model in a nightclub. Have fun together.

After signing the contract, there was a passionate exchange of champagne.

But what about the ninety-year-old antique?

They are really completely old. They can't live anymore and can't dance. If they get excited, half of their lives may be gone.

When people are young, it is easy to become a naked profit-seeking commercial animal.

But after reaching his twilight years, his thinking naturally changed. Maybe it wasn't that Lao Yang was showing off, but that Cao Xuan really didn't care much about the conditions they offered.

Maybe they don’t care as much about the promise of “the leader in the future art world” as the executives of “Oil Painting” imagined.

"Because there is no need, Mr. Kruger. You never understood what Mr. Cao was thinking. You said that for the 10% of the shares, we asked for a random price so that you could spend more on the signing fee. No, no. No, wrong."

Lao Yang sighed: "I believe that the A4 paper you handed over is the base price for "Oil Painting". But in fact, the conditions we discussed on the phone are also our true base prices, and there is no compromise or compromise. space."

"If you are willing to give it, that's great. If you have money, you are awesome. If we sign it, no one is a fucking saint, right? With this contract, whether the future results are good or bad, we have nothing to be pretentious about. Just accept the choice yourself."

"If you are not willing to give it, then it is nothing more than keeping it as it is and not mixing it up. I really don't want to threaten Sir Brown here. This principle is not only applicable to "Oil Painting", but also to the Elena family."

"As you said, yes or no, yes or no, is the simplest multiple-choice question. This matter is as simple as that. Therefore, Cao Xuan does not think there is any reason to spend millions of dollars to please The professional team was very engaged in discussions.”

Lao Yang patted the shoulder of this young man who seemed to have been punched in the face.

"So, you came here with the wrong idea from the beginning."

"Have you negotiated with Yayoi Kusama and Hirst? What does it have to do with us? This is not a prisoner's game between a few sheep competing for a piece of pasture. It has never been a game of asking for a high price and paying back the money on the ground. This is what we A seller's market. The unique Cao Xuan, with a unique price, is like a precious volume of Leonardo da Vinci's works. It could be US$5000 million, US$5 million or US$10 billion. It just depends on what price the seller is willing to bid. , only if any rich people are interested."

"Even if you come with gold and silver and you can't meet our psychological price, then it's still NO, it can only be NO, so it's a pity."

Lao Yang snapped his fingers.

When I walked to the door of the restaurant, I suddenly thought of something, and seemed to suddenly think of something important. I ran back quickly in small steps.

"Yes, yes, you said you would give this to me before. True to your word, I took it."

Lao Yang wiped off the water vapor on the wine bottle in the ice bucket with a napkin, took the bottle of 1988 Dom Perignon Champagne in his hand, and happily took it away.

I almost forgot such an important thing.

I heard that a bottle of wine can weigh as much as a Toyota car.

There is a Kaizi who pretends to be taken advantage of and insists on giving it to himself.

If he forgot to take it, wouldn't he be sorry for his dignified nickname?

"What exactly does Cao Xuan want?"

Oler couldn't help turning his head and yelled at Lao Yang, who had already walked out several meters again. "I don't believe that he doesn't feel moved at all. As you said, everyone should have a price. A person who can stir up the entire Asian art market for half a century. I don't believe that it is really possible that he is indifferent to fame and wealth, and has no desires or desires. The saint!"

"You're right. Everyone has a price that allows others to do what they want. For example, if you give me wine, I think you have a great future, brother."

Lao Yang stopped and looked happily at the honey-colored wine bottle in his arms.

I also remembered Mr. Cao Xuan's joyful and vivid facial expression when he received the "Wisteria Flower Picture" some time ago.

"Of course Mr. Cao also has it."

"It's a pity that you can't give him what he wants, Mr. Kruger, and neither can the entire "Oil Painting" magazine. However, what should be good news for you is that the entire Elena family should do the same. I can't give it to you." "Well, even the small group of people who stand at the top of the industry have things that money can't buy. Whenever I think about this kind of thing, I lose a lot of motivation to strive. .”

Lao Yang sniffed.

In a deep and bleak tone that did not suit his professional image, he joked: "Sometimes, it's so melancholy that it makes you want to become a monk."

"You asked me before who I was chatting with on the phone just now. You should go and watch the opening ceremony of the annual meeting in two days and you will understand."

"Trust me, brother Ole."

"The $5 million contract you offered may not be more interesting to Mr. Cao than a child in Yangon."

Lao Yang was holding a briefcase in one hand, holding the Champagne King in his arms, and stretched out his hands to comb his hair into a hairstyle that he believed could show the handsomeness and vicissitudes of a middle-aged man.

Wearing leather shoes.

Then he went out to drink coffee with Secretary Elliot.

The business elites with stiff faces were left behind.

$5 million? It's not as interesting as a child. Is that child Cao Xuan's illegitimate son?

Stop talking.

Oler doesn't know if there is any child in the world worth $5 million, but he has great confidence in his father.

If one day he is kidnapped and calls Kruger Bank to ask for a ransom of 5 million US dollars...then Mr. Kruger will definitely use a very calm and polite tone to ask the kidnappers to break up.

These traditional rich and old money families that can be passed down from generation to generation are actually quite cruel.

Stop talking about bullshit illegitimacy.

Even among his brothers and sisters, those who are really useless and want to live alone and wait to die, his father can leave them 50 euros in the future inheritance to earn interest in the bank, which is a rare act of kindness.

Oil tycoon Paul Getty, who is as famous as the Rockefeller family in the art world, is the founder of the Getty Art Center, one of the major art museums in the United States. He has been the world's richest man for more than 20 years.

In 1950, people could spend tens of millions to buy their favorite art.

His grandson Getty III was kidnapped and sent back with one ear cut off. Paul Getty could still act like a business king and refused to give him a dime.

What Lao Yang said was simply challenging Oler's worldview.

He stood in front of the table for ten minutes before calling the waiter over to pay the bill.

"Including the bottle of Yingge wine produced in the Napa Che region, the total bill is 3732.62 euros. Did you pay by credit card?"

Oler nodded, handed over his platinum bank card, and then opened his wallet. Under the obvious disappointment of the handsome waiter, he took a 20-euro note from the wallet and placed it on the table as a tip.

Damn it.

He looked at the empty ice bucket and rubbed the corners of his eyes vigorously.

Oler really couldn't believe it.

Before the contract was negotiated, Lao Yang was still so shameless that he actually took away his birthday champagne when he left.

People can be so shameless.

"Fuck, these people are all fucking sick."

He cursed secretly, took out his cell phone, and started calling Sir Brown.
-

Gu Weijing wiped Awang's hair dry with a towel and blew it carefully with a small hairdryer.

Put your things away and prepare to leave.

"Meow."

Awang jumped into his arms and licked his tail in a cute way.

"Good night. I'm going to take a shower too."

Gu Weijing patted Maomi's head and placed Awang back on the mat as if nothing had happened. He hummed a little tune guiltily and turned around to leave.

I saw the shit shoveling officer there pretending to be confused.

Awang is too lazy to put in the effort to act cute and open his business here. As a nimble fat person, she rolled in front of Gu Weijing and blocked his way.

She sat on the wooden floor by the door without moving, squinting at him with a wise look.

? ?

Gu Weijing was there holding a basin and pretending to be innocent.

Awang began to lick his paws threateningly.

After a brief exchange of glances between one person and one cat, Xiao Guzi, who tried to cheat, was finally defeated.

"Okay, okay, okay, I promised you the ham sausage." Gu Weijing reluctantly put the washbasin aside, muttered, opened the small refrigerator on the side, and took out a vacuum-packed stick from it. When the sausage came out, he educated him dissatisfiedly: "Do you know this is junk food for you? It's high in salt and oil. Cats who love beauty in their homes have to take the initiative to lose weight!"

Awang ignored Gu Weijing's mumbling.

It was lying next to it, meowing and telling Gu Weijing to cut more.

Cats and dogs are different.

Dogs have been completely domesticated by humans.

Cats are pure carnivores and still maintain the strong hunting habits of cats. Some delicious cats cannot eat enough.

Therefore, most pet dogs with normal thyroid function and no diabetes have similar body shapes. But cats who like to store fat can really become chubby when they become fat.

Awang doesn't feel the need to lose weight at all.

Our family is so rich and beautiful!

Especially when I was with Katsuko Sakai, I was fed every day.

Sometimes, Gu Weijing really felt that there were external reasons why Uncle Sakai was so fed.

I heard that the obesity rate among men in Latino families is extremely high, and the women’s daily hobby is cooking various lasagna and other high-calorie foods in the kitchen.

Mrs. Sakai seems to be a pretty stern woman.

But he had seen on Miss Sakai's cell phone that the cats her mother kept at home were all exaggerated like little pigs.

But it is normal for one or two cats to be a little fat, and if there are seven or eight cats in a row, all of them are chubby little cats, it is not an accidental event.

At least it shows that Mrs. Sakai is also very good at feeding.

(End of this chapter)