Almighty painter

Chapter 711 The First Day of the Exhibition

Apart from the mural project, it goes without saying that Gu Weijing's overall appearance was still very immature.

Even if it was a month or two ago.

Lao Yang took his bodyguards and flew to Yangon to deliver gifts.

He once saw from afar Gu Weijing's back as he stood silently in front of the "Worshiping Buddha and Protecting the Dharma Picture".

Although it's a bit arrogant and cool.

Although Lao Yang secretly took Gu Weijing's interpretation and used it as his own WeChat signature.

Although various...

But in Lao Yang's heart, Gu Weijing still looks more like a child than an adult.

Yang Dekang also gave Jiang Shan some advice and urged him to dress himself up like Brother Yang and dress nicely. As the leader, he would take him to show off and fly.

But now.

The moment Gu Weijing walked out of the airport immigration channel dragging his suitcase.

That kind of calmness, that kind of aura, that kind of appearance and grace.

The profound tranquility and spring-like temperament are blended together by the sunlight, leading to a profound and unique sense of harmony.

He looks simple, peaceful and ordinary, just like a plain sandalwood-colored bamboo incense.

One combined with temperament.

It's like a thin incense stick inserted into a blue enameled cloisonné censer with gold branches. The small stick fills the room with golden fragrance.

It fell into Lao Yang's killer instinct, and in Lao Yang's mind, it fell into the sight of the old cowboy in the dog-skin hat who was shooting everywhere with a small pistol... From an intuitive point of view, these are clearly two people!

"Wow, is this your cat? So cute, so cute, what's her name?"

The young lady looked at Awang, who was yawning on the suitcase, and felt like Xishi holding her heart.

"...Yeah, I like cats, too. People who keep small animals are kind-hearted..."

"...I will go to your exhibition. Can we exchange contact information? Do you have INS--"

Teacher Yang stared in amazement at the blonde girl whom he had just tried to flirt with for a long time, then took the initiative to approach her and exchanged contact information with Gu Weijing.

Then without even looking at him, he turned and walked away.

"Brother Yang, I'm sorry I'm a day late. I didn't expect you to come pick me up in person. Shall we set off now?"

Gu Weijing turned around and looked at Old Yang who looked dumbfounded.

Noticed Lao Yang's expression.

The young man raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Are you... okay? Are you feeling unwell?"

Old Yang took a big step back suddenly.

Appearance is not important.

The key is to have temperament.

Even if you are not handsome... as long as you have style, taste, and dress with taste... you can still be charming, and you can... you can still have female fans!

He looked at Gu Weijing, and the words of encouragement that had just come to his mind emerged one by one.

then.

He turned his head again and looked at the blonde girl's hair swinging in the sunlight.

Old Yang staggered.

His burning soul of charm...collapsed.
-
"Brother Yang, do you have anything to say to me? It's okay, just say it."

on the highway.

An M3 BMW sports sedan was speeding on the driveway. This car was not Lao Yang's, but a car purchased by Liu Ziming in Singapore.

Mr. Liu has a lot of cars.

He usually has a full-time driver for his daily travel. He was too lazy to drive himself, so he gave the keys to Lao Yang and lent him the car to use for transportation during his stay in Singapore.

Old Yang was so beautiful for a long time.

Singapore has a developed economy and a high average income.

Taxes are also high.

Large-displacement cars are extremely expensive.

An ordinary cheap Toyota car will cost around 70,000 to 80,000 dollars.

Plus optional.

The factory prices of Liu Ziming's BMW and Lao Yang's Porsche sports car in Germany are similar.

But in Singapore, this car is easily the price of an entry-level Ferrari in a place like Nevada in North America, or maybe even a little more expensive.

In addition, Singapore’s land area is too small.

Buying a car is not a necessity for ordinary people to travel.

Many high-level white-collar families can afford to hire a Filipino maid, but cannot afford a car.

Therefore, anyone who can drive this kind of high-performance sports car on Singapore’s highways must be either rich or noble.

Mr. Liu's M3 driving on the iconic Sheares Bridge in the Binhai District is much cooler than Lao Yang's sports car driving on the riverside in Hamburg.

Mr. Yang, a die-hard show-off enthusiast, would never forget such a good opportunity to pose.

these days.

Every time Lao Yang drives out.

Whenever the car was not going very fast, he would roll down the window.

He rested his elbows on the car door and covered most of his face with huge sunglasses like a big star.

Especially when waiting at a traffic light, Lao Yang would always turn his head to the side in a chic manner, slightly lift his chin, look up at the blue sky at a 45-degree angle, skillfully hiding his greasy double chin and giving the traffic outside the window an artistic profile.

the only thing that is missing.

Liu Ziming should not care about such a trivial matter, but Lao Yang was still embarrassed to smoke in someone else's car.

Singapore is also a very famous country that prohibits the production and sale of chewing gum.

When answering reporters' questions, Mr. Li said that if he felt his mouth was uncomfortable due to having nothing to do, he could chew a banana as a substitute.

Lao Yang thought about it seriously.

I think it’s really uncool for such a cool uncle to be sitting on the car seat and chewing a big banana.

He found a matchstick and inserted it into the gap on the edge of the dashboard.

Whenever Lao Yang held a match stick in his mouth, wore big sunglasses, and looked up at the sky at a 45-degree angle, the BGM of Xiao Ma Ge's appearance in the old version of Shanghai Bund would sound silently in his ears, giving him great spiritual satisfaction.

666.

Teacher Yang is so cool!
On the way out of the airport, Lao Yang today seemed to have lost his usual interest. He didn't wear his sunglasses or hold a match in his mouth. He drove dejectedly, and from time to time he rolled his round eyes and secretly glanced at Gu Weijing in the rearview mirror.

If he hadn't confirmed it over and over again.

The other person's facial features are still the same ones that you are familiar with.

Old Yang almost thought that Gu Weijing was late for more than a week and missed the opening ceremony of the Singapore Biennale because he had plastic surgery.

When Gu Weijing couldn't remember whether it was the fourth or fifth time, he discovered that Mr. Cao's personal assistant was staring at him with an extremely strange look in the driver's seat.

Lao Yang hasn't said anything yet.

Gu Weijing frowned when he was looked at and asked directly.

"Is it because I'm late for the exhibition and caused some trouble for the organizers?"

Hearing this, Yang Dekang was silent for a moment, sniffed, and then spoke directly.

The middle-aged man sounded distressed, but he didn't mention anything related to the exhibition.

"Brother Gu, you are young and don't understand many things. Old Cao always said in front of others that people should keep their original intentions in the face of temptation. Only an unshakable and peaceful heart can allow the brush to transcend... You are still young, listen to Brother Yang's advice, there are some things you can't grasp now. Brother, I have seen a lot, it's just politeness, do you think that when people say they pay attention to you, they really mean it-"

Lao Yang slapped the steering wheel hard.

Outsiders who don't know the inside story only listen to Lao Yang's tone.

I thought that Gu Weijing was not invited to add an art lover he met at the airport, but that Tang Sanzang had accidentally entered the Pansi Cave which was filled with female goblins.

"I understand, I understand. Thank you, Brother Yang. I understand all these things."

Gu Weijing nodded.

Old Yang looked suspiciously through the rearview mirror, turned his head and glanced at Gu Weijing again.

The boy's current appearance makes Old Yang look at him just ordinary and a little confused.

He seemed to want to activate his killer instinct and use that "flash of inspiration" to guess whether the boy was telling the truth.

"Please don't be perfunctory with your brother Yang!"

It seemed as if he was afraid that Gu Weijing didn't know the seriousness of the matter.

Old Yang added in an emphatic tone: "You call me Brother Yang, so as an elder, I have the obligation to speak my heart out to you and tell you the truth."

"Who are we talking to? If you have something unpleasant to say, Brother Yang, I won't keep quiet with you. From what I've observed over the years, when an artist meets a fan of the opposite sex who actively asks you to add him as a chat friend, as long as there is a start, there will be a second, and then a third, and then..."

Talking and talking.

In the rearview mirror, Lao Yang's face became paler and paler.

He looked at Gu Weijing and thought of those artistic talents he had seen over the years, who became famous at a young age, were elegant, suave and wealthy, and were always surrounded by people at various gatherings.

In an instant, it seemed as if tears of envy were about to burst out.

Why, why, why, why doesn’t Lao Yang encounter such a thing?
Didn't he work hard on memorizing English poems? Were his jokes not interesting enough?

Is it because he has a little belly?
Does having a small belly mean you are born inferior to others?

"So, the key is to control yourself from the beginning. People's moral decline begins with a moment of indulgence." Old Yang slapped his thigh in regret again.

"Do you know about AIDS? Do you know how terrible AIDS is? Do you know how many people would be infected during the Cannes and Venice art festivals in the last century? Especially at those parties." A resolute look appeared on Lao Yang's face, as if he was willing to go through fire and water, and he would say he would save young people like Gu Weijing who were at risk of losing their way, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.

"Brother Yang must give you a vaccination today—"

"Don't worry, Brother Yang, I understand."

Gu Weijing shook his head.

"I just felt embarrassed to refuse because he asked. I don't have any other intentions and I don't feel like doing anything else right now."

"Really?" "Really, absolutely genuine." His eyes drooped.

Old Yang looked at the young man's face in the shadow.

that moment.

Yang Dekang felt it, as if some emotion was flowing through him.

It's a pity.

It's depressing.

Or is it entangled?
The old cowboy captured Gu Weijing's feelings at that moment through the scope of his pistol.

But he didn't understand.

I just feel that no matter what it is...it has a power that can make people calm and silent.

Old Yang opened his mouth to give the young man a lesson in physiology and hygiene, but suddenly closed it again.

The literary uncle sighed softly, opened the center console of his BMW, and casually played an old song from the 1970s and 1980s.

"Have you sorted out all the family matters? There won't be any more trouble? Is your cousin and everything else okay?"

The traffic lights change.

Old Yang started to move, took the matchstick and put it in his mouth, speaking vaguely.

"It's my cousin. It's all taken care of. There won't be any trouble."

Gu Weijing nodded.

"It's just that I had too many things to do and I couldn't get away with it, so I came late. Does the organizing committee have any objection?" he asked directly and frankly.

"Have I caused trouble for Mr. Cao? I'm very sorry."

“It’s actually easy to deal with the art exhibition. This kind of thing mainly depends on the artists wanting to participate in the exhibition, not the Biennale begging the artists to come.”

Old Yang shrugged.

"At least it's like this until you become an international second-tier painter, or what the entertainment industry calls a 'B-List' artist. If you become as valuable as Kazunari Sakai or Tangning, then it will definitely be a different story."

"Don't think Brother Yang's words are harsh. When I was in college, a teacher at school told me that many people in this industry are a little too sensitive. In fact, before you become really famous, there is no need to take yourself too seriously."

Old Yang said, "To be frank, this Biennale is not held for you. Don't think you are a big shot just because someone asks you for an autograph at the airport! How many of the tourists who come to see the exhibition have heard of the name Gu Weijing? After all, you are too young. In an art festival, there are only a few core figures who will really attract attention."

It's not just Gu Weijing.

He has been working in the industry for many years.

"This foreign girl has never even heard of the name of Yang Dekang."

Old Yang pouted and hummed softly in his heart.

There are countless pairs of eyes in this industry, but every pair of eyes will only focus on the few people at the top.

The stage was piled up like a waterfall of gold thrown down from the auction house, and was reflected by the flashbulbs in the hands of the reporters into a snow-white skyscraper.

Only those few may sign their names in the molten gold and leave their footprints in the snow.

The glory only belongs to a few people who stand on the bones of losers.

The name Gu Weijing's professional status in the field of painting is still a blank slate... He has never participated in any art exhibitions, not even the kind of children's art exhibitions that Sakai Katsuko had participated in before.

He has not announced any gallery signings.

He has no recommendation rating in Oil Painting magazine.

He does not belong to any artists' association.

His professional status is almost equivalent to no status.

Due to his paper published in "Asian Art", Gu Weijing is actually somewhat famous in the international art field, but his fame is limited to the research field.

After all, the paper was just published last month and has not had enough time to ferment.

If other factors are removed.

Let’s take Gu Weijing’s current career status as an example.

From the perspective of the organizing committee, his failure to appear at the exhibition meant that he had simply wasted a precious opportunity for exposure.

When the exhibition is over, the curator Tonks might not even notice that a young painter of his level was not there.

"But - after two days, the matter became different again."

"Mr. Liu went to the organizing committee personally for you and asked for a special session so that you could talk about the painting 'Old Church in a Thunderstorm'."

In the blink of an eye.

Old Yang's tone became cheerful again.

“This is a great opportunity to be the center of attention.”

"So... being late for half a day is not a big deal. As long as you can't bear the pressure and decide to run away secretly, the rest of the things will be easy."

Old Yang made a half-true, half-false joke with a hint of meaning.

"I was really shocked when I found out that you were not on the plane that day. During the years I was Mr. Cao's assistant, he was old and sometimes I had to turn down some invitations. But you are the first person who dared to stand Mr. Cao up."

He knew that something had happened in Gu Weijing's family, but he didn't know much.

July 1st.

All of them went to Singapore, but the real person, Gu Weijing, did not come.

But it really scared Lao Yang.

He once thought that Gu Weijing had heard some rumors and couldn't bear the pressure, so he decided to sell it. Then this incident... might become the most ridiculous joke in the upper-class art circle of this century.

If Gu Weijing really dared to stand up Old Cao, he would risk his life to tell this story and leave Old Master Cao aside.

Well, that's all I can say.

Old Yang really admires this kid's...comedy talent.

Compared with myself, he is the real comedian.

My friend, you are the real clown.

fortunately.

fortunately.

Although he was late and was very nervous... no matter what everyone thought, Gu Weijing was late for a long time but finally arrived at the exhibition.

"Thank you, Mr. Liu. I really appreciate him giving me this opportunity."

Gu Weijing nodded seriously.

"It must have taken a lot of effort for Mr. Liu to hold a seminar for my thesis at the Esplanade. Thank you, Mr. Liu. And... thank you, Brother Yang. You have been inconvenienced to contact me these past few days, and even came to pick me up today."

Upon hearing this, Old Yang felt so embarrassed that he didn't know how to respond.

but.

After being in the world of fame and fortune for so many years, his old face has become oily and thick, like a layer of leather armor, and he will not let a youngster like Gu Weijing see any clues.

He scratched his chin, stepped on the accelerator, and amid the roar of the V6 engine, he used silence and noise to cover up his embarrassment.

Yang Dekang overtook a Tesla in front of him and secretly looked at Gu Weijing in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

Seeing the young man's face full of sincerity and gratitude, Old Yang was sure that what Gu Weijing had just said was not some sarcastic remark.

Yes.

The middle-aged man thought to himself, how could he know the twists and turns here, and how could he know the sinister hearts of the people here?

When I picked him up at the airport.

Old Yang felt that Gu Weijing had changed a lot, as if he had gone through some things, and had been filtered and precipitated, and had grown from a child into an adult.

But after all, they are still children who have just reached adulthood.

An artist's temperament may enable a man to meet a blonde girl asking for contact information at the airport, but it cannot make him learn all the sinister tricks of smiling but hiding a dagger in the world of fame and fortune in an instant.

many things.

Everyone else knows what's going on, but they're all hiding it from you with a smile. You still naively think that if you call them Mr. Lifetime or Brother, they're all good gentlemen and good brothers.

most of the time.

If you haven't experienced it, you won't understand it.

Even Mr. Cao didn't give any instructions in advance about what to say to Gu Weijing.

The old man probably wanted to see Gu Weijing's truest reaction at the meeting.

Others will say even less.

“It took a lot of effort to arrange this.”

Old Yang lowered his eyes, and said with a normal tone, smiling: "After this is over, Brother Gu, you will be a star! At least the entire Asian painter community will know you to some extent. If everything goes well with the exchange meeting."

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it."

"If...if everything goes well." Old Yang seemed to have some meaning and repeated the last few words of his words again.

I thought about it.

Looking at the young man's immature face in the rearview mirror, Lao Yang sighed again.

He suddenly spoke up, "The seminar will be in a few days, and the schedule has been sent out. How about this, since you have already missed the opening ceremony of the Biennale this morning. There is no need to go in the afternoon, wait until tomorrow, and get some rest first. Be careful that reporters will ask you questions you are not prepared for. Remember, an art exhibition is not a press conference, so talk less, and ignore them if you are not sure. There won't be a lot of reporters at this kind of Biennale. And, um... prepare more for your speech at the seminar."

The middle-aged man thought for a moment.

"Call the Ma Shi Gallery." He said softly.

"Call? To Ma Shi?" Gu Weijing was a little surprised. "I haven't officially signed a contract with the gallery yet?"

"That's okay. You've already signed the pre-contract, but you just don't have an exclusive agent or assistant. Talk to them about the seminar and say... you want to ask for some professional advice."

Old Yang stared at the road outside the window.

He does not look into the eyes of the Scripture.

But he speaks very fast.

"Mers is a giant gallery with nearly a century of history. They are very knowledgeable in handling this kind of things. They know exactly what pitfalls you might encounter and how to answer trap questions. Their agents will even provide professional training for painters. You won't go wrong by asking them in advance. They are extremely professional in these areas related to media publicity and public relations."

"Also, when you are facing an agent, tell them what is going on. Don't hide it. You know what I mean, right? Generally speaking, the agents and assistants assigned to you by the gallery are not as reliable as the ones you hire yourself. It's not a question of professionalism. To them, the gallery is the boss. For private employees you hire, you are the boss, you are the one who pays them, and they are loyal to you."

Lao Yang's voice was as fast as a machine gun or a submachine gun firing.

"But don't worry about that for now."

(End of this chapter)