Almighty painter

Chapter 726: The House Number of the Fateful Man (Part )

The short week he spent in Xihe Guild Hall allowed Gu Weijing to finally understand the rules of this world and his own life.

He understood the meaning of Mr. Cao's mural.

He fully understood Carroll's painting "Old Church in a Thunderstorm" and the deep meaning implied in the brushstrokes used by the female painter to depict the thunderstorm, lightning and candlelight.

A person never has only one destiny.

A person does not always have to follow the path arranged by fate with utmost obedience.

Or.

Destiny is choice, choice is destiny.

If you choose to be a child, you will always be treated as a child.

Most people in this society are accustomed to looking down on children's opinions and ideas, treating them as insignificant.

This has nothing to do with good or bad people.

A very kind person may, out of sympathy, take the initiative to hand a string of candied haws to a child hugging his knees on the street, but will never entrust the other party with something as important as "respect" or even "respect".

People only respect those who are powerful.

Fate will only respect powerful opponents.

The so-called "powerful" does not mean having money or holding power.

In Xihe Guild Hall, Gu Weijing also saw through Brother Hao.

He has committed many evil things, he is very powerful, he is a billionaire and he has the power to control everything.

But in front of fate, he is still just an anxious weakling. He first cunningly wants to use the usual means to offer a price to buy fate or fool the god of death.

Facing the hills of power and gold.

Fate responded with silent contempt.

finally.

His heart cried out in fear and despair: "Save me, please someone save me!"

The real strength is inner strength.

Even if it’s stormy outside, you can still light a candle for yourself in your heart.

You are trapped by the chains of fate on the towering Caucasus Mountains, with circling vultures pecking at your liver every day. Or you can watch the crying, pleasure and joy of the world with noble calmness, and send silent contempt to the gods on the holy Mount Olympus.

When Zeus was enjoying himself, he looked down at the ancient Titan from the clouds.

When He looked at the giant's golden blood, dyeing the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus like candles painted in the sun.

Was there such a moment?
Will you feel scared?
Is there such a moment?

Did the King of Gods feel respect or even fear for a power that was completely different from His power to summon thunder and lightning, but equally powerful?
Gu Weijing didn't know.

Gu Weijing only knew that when he was 18 years old, he said to Brother Hao: "At the end of your life, have you ever thought about the first time in your history that you felt true repentance?"

There was no fear in Gu Weijing's heart, or rather, he was at peace with fear.

Fear is to him as a friend.

Brother Hao was tortured by death and his heart was full of holes caused by fear.

The fear of facing death surged in their hearts.

At the age of eighteen, he seemed like a real man.

The middle-aged godfather, kneeling on the ground and covering his chest and coughing, looked like a helpless child.

In the history of species evolution of more than 100,000 years, when bipedal upright apes encountered ferocious cats in the jungle, their bodies would secrete a large amount of adrenaline at the moment they felt great fear.

It will cause the organism's blood pressure to rise instantly, the internal blood vessels to tighten, and accelerate the decomposition of glycogen and fat, providing a large amount of energy for the subsequent battle or escape, in order to have a faster and more rapid on-the-spot reaction.

Therefore, adrenaline is also called the "fight or flight" hormone in medicine.

Fight or flight.

From this perspective.

Fear is the source of weakness but also the source of strength.

In the double room on the twelfth floor of the Miwucha Hotel, the sound of the bipedal apes talking on the phone probably disturbed the ferocious cat creature that was sleeping on the table.

It narrowed its eyes, wagged its tail, and meowed in dissatisfaction.

"Ms. Lampcher, I think these people's opinions may have some truth, don't they?"

Gu Weijing took out the last book, placed the suitcase against the corner of the house, and sat down on the sofa by the window.

“I am not a guest painter, nor am I a VIP guest, and I am certainly not a highly respected art expert, but my paintings are not insignificant.”

"Neither is my friendship or gratitude."

For the brave, embracing fear is embracing strength.

For those who are respected, gaining respect means gaining authority.

For men, facing fate with fortitude is a noble virtue of self-reliance and self-improvement.

Between the timid and the brave, the disrespected and the respected, the child and the man, Gu Weijing required himself to be a brave and respected man.

Possess strength, authority and self-reliance.

“You’ve been saying that if you were me, you would take this opportunity and choose to be more respectful of this Biennale.”

His voice is warm.

But somehow, to the ears of curatorial assistant Bonnie Lampcher, it sounded like a cold anger.

Gu Weijing stretched out his finger, gently scratched the cat's ear, and said.

"If I were you, I would also take this opportunity and choose to treat this 18-year-old with more respect."

"That's the purpose of my call, to give advice and make a request."

The man at the window concluded.

There was silence on the phone for the umpteenth time.

Gu Weijing could hear the clear breathing sound of the curatorial assistant coming from the receiver of the phone.

She hesitated.

She was thinking too.

"Time is passing, Miss Lampcher, time is passing."

Gu Weijing waited for a while, and just a few seconds before he felt that he had given the other party enough time and was about to hang up the phone.

There was a hurried voice coming from the other end of the receiver.

"You...uh, just a meeting?" the other party asked softly.

"Yes, I only need one meeting. You decide the time, but please don't make me wait too long." Gu Weijing answered politely.

"Okay, I will convey your request to Director Tonks, but I can't give you any guarantees. Guarantees about the outcome of the meeting, or even guarantees about whether the meeting can take place -" Miss Lampcher seemed to have made up her mind.

There was also a slight but noticeable change in her tone of voice.

"This is not something I can decide, please forgive me...GU, Mr. GU." she said.

"Okay, that's what I asked for. Thank you, Ms. Lampcher." Gu Weijing nodded and hung up the phone on the windowsill.

He took the phone in his hand and glanced at the call record.

"Santa's phone number?"

The young man whispered, "That's not the number to make a wish to Santa Claus, but I did get the house number for Mr. Destiny, didn't I?"

Ding dong.

Gu Weijing has already rung the doorbell.

As for whether Mr. Fate is willing to open the door to welcome guests, that is the business of the curator, Mr. Micah Tonks.

The whole process was simpler and smoother than Gu Weijing had imagined.

He lowered his head and looked at the cat beside him who was squinting and trying to take a nap.

"Perhaps, for some things, as long as you have the courage to try, the process itself will not be too difficult?" He said to himself.

"What do you think, Awang?"

Awang turned over comfortably and signaled Xiao Guzi to scratch him harder in response.

Gu Weijing took out his cell phone.

He once again clicked on "Mr. Sloth's Art Salon" on the podcast client.

Gu Weijing felt it necessary to go to the comment section of this third-party talk show, which has a relatively neutral stance, to see what the general audience's feedback was, so as to make some preparations in advance for the upcoming symposium at the Esplanade.

"Mr. Sloth is really quick to react this time. I just saw the discussion about 'New Discoveries of Impressionism' on the Internet yesterday. I didn't expect that Mr. Sloth would invite the person involved in the paper."

"47:36 seconds - premeditated joint crime... This word is used very well, hahahaha, Kazunari Sakai's daughter is quite cute."

"I first learned about Katsuko Sakai when I bought a cartoon postcard of a child artist printed by a Tokyo gallery. I always thought she was a daffodil fairy because of her comic-style drawing. It wasn't until I followed her account on Instagram that I realized how cute she was... Today, I realized for the first time that she had published an article in Asian Art. Is she the daughter of a great artist? However, after listening to this episode, I think Ms. Sakai's image has become more complete. At least she was very honest in her conversation."

"Daffodil elf? What a weird metaphor. Sakai Kazunari looks so round, but his daughter is so beautiful. This is genetics... Should we say that fat people have potential?"

"Post it on the girl's Instagram account. Although Kazunari Sakai is fat, he has a lot of style. He doesn't look ugly at all."

"That metaphor about frogs and cicadas, how great is that? The problem is, from what I hear, Ms. Sakai has a boyfriend? And they broke up with regret! Unbelievable! If I had a girlfriend like Katsuko Sakai, I would be willing to be her frog for the rest of my life."

……

The podcast has been online for less than a day, and the number of comments has already shown “99+”.

Gu Weijing originally wanted to see what people thought of him in the comments.

Took two glances.

He realized that he was overthinking.

He is a nobody in the art world.

Even though he signed a pre-contract with the Ma Shi Gallery at the age of 18, published a paper in "Asian Art", the artist project of the watercolor department of the Hamburg Academy of Fine Arts sent him a special admission letter, and he was shortlisted for the main exhibition area of ​​the Singapore Biennale.

Compared to Katsuko Sakai.

He remains a nobody in the art world.

Just like the curatorial assistant, Ms. Lampcher, who originally treated herself somewhat frivolously on the phone.

The vast majority of ordinary audiences and art lovers have no idea who Gu Weijing is.

That paper on Carroll came into the public eye, and it was the first time most people heard the name "Gu Weijing" in their lives, and it was difficult to leave a deep impression on them.

The public's memory of him is a complete blank.

But Katsuko Sakai is different.

She is cute and has many fans on her Instagram account. A Tokyo gallery printed her image on postcards and sent them all over the world. Her father is one of the most important painters in Asia.

He is quite possibly the most “heavyweight” figure in the art world—the heaviest and most famous fat man.

It naturally has a lot of topicality.

She naturally possesses all the elements and qualities of the "jade lady painter" or "beautiful girl painter" that are most loved by galleries and the media.

Bring your own traffic. Lao Yang suggested that Gu Weijing hide behind Miss Sakai, because he is a bystander.

With his teacher Yang's slickness, he saw the matter clearly at the first moment.

In discussions about this paper, although Gu Weijing is the current owner of "The Old Church in the Thunderstorm", whenever he and Katsuko Sakai appear together, the media's focus and discussion will definitely be mainly on Katsuko Sakai.

Although Gu Weijing wanted to steal the limelight, he had no ability to do so.

It is better to shrink when necessary and increase production when necessary.

When it’s time to play the turtle, play the turtle well.

Although Katsuko Sakai has repeatedly stated in the podcast that her contribution to the paper is not as great as Gu Weijing's.

However, Gu Weijing was rarely mentioned in public opinion, and Katsuko Sakai was regarded as the main author of the paper.

When they talk about it occasionally, it is usually mentioned in conjunction with gossip about Ms. Sakai's metaphor of "the chirping of cicadas and the croaking of frogs."

There is even more discussion about Mr. Sloth than about Gu Weijing.

“Eh… Do you feel that Mr. Sloth’s conversational style this time is a bit too sharp and strong… Eehhh, I don’t really like his interrogative tone. What qualifications does he have to talk to Katsuko Sakai like that? Just because he won the Apple Podcasts Rising Star Award and Editor’s Choice Award last year, does he think he is the official podcast of Oil Painting magazine?”

"It's rare to see a host being criticized, hahaha."

“That line at the end about not having regrets is great.”

"It's understandable, right? There are too many similar cases of fraud in the academic world nowadays. Mr. Sloth was a little stubborn in getting to the bottom of things when he was talking to me, which I think is good. Isn't this more profound than those interview programs where the host and the guests flatter each other all day long? I don't know if they discussed it in advance, but the conversation was very effective for the show anyway."

“Expert X discovered the art collection of X, and then this and that happened—I’ve seen too many narratives like this in the past two years. I’m fed up with it, really. Even if Kazunari Sakai’s daughter wants to be famous, she shouldn’t play this game. Didn’t her father already arrange for her to attend an art exhibition? Why not arrange a fictional female painter? Are they trying to steal the spotlight on gender narratives again?”

"On the contrary, I think that since she is Kazunari Sakai's daughter, why would she rely on fraud to become famous?"

……

Gu Weijing read the comments one by one.

Some viewers will attack the results of the paper or Shengzi in the comment section.

This is normal.

So far.

All works, characters, and artists in the field of literature and art cannot be liked by everyone in the world.

Wang Xizhi can't do it.

Not Da Vinci.

No matter how god-like you are, it won’t work.

and so.

It is normal for the audience to raise objections to you, and it is their natural right.

However, what can represent society's views on a person or an idea is often the views of the majority of the mainstream population.

The mainstream attitude in the comment section was much better than Gu Weijing had imagined.

to be honest.

As for the "Carol" incident, the vast majority of the audience had no preconceived stance and just watched with the attitude of watching spectators.

They are like a pure white sketch paper.

If you "draw well", it will become a good painting.

If you "draw badly", the audience will throw it into the trash can.

Katsuko Sakai has always been a very talented little painter, and she performed very well in the show.

Gentle.

But there is a kind of straightforward cuteness.

She was able to make a woman like Anna, who was particularly difficult to "serve", feel that Gu Weijing and Sakai Katsuko did not commit any fraud when writing the paper.

"The Old Church in a Thunderstorm" is really the work that Miss Kara hid at the end of the world.

It is not difficult to conquer ordinary audiences.

Who doesn’t like a girl who is strong, straightforward, delicate and has her own personality?
Katsuko Sakai's personality is actually more appealing to ordinary people than Miss Elena's.

In every aspect, Miss Elena is too "strong".

She is the brightest rose in spring, incredibly beautiful, breathtakingly beautiful, and incredibly stinging.

People only dared to bark "Woof, woof, woof" and stick out their tongues and stand around. Anyone who dared to get close and rub against them would definitely be so annoyed that he would cover his paws and meow, meow, meow! The dog would even make cat sounds!

Katsuko Sakai is the pink and white lotus that blooms in the pond when the summer sun shines brightly.

Sweet and warm with a little bit of soft thorns.

The sting doesn't hurt.

The truth of the thorn.

The thorns are cute.

Even if the listeners have doubts in their hearts or even some malice towards the paper when they open the podcast.

When we heard Katsuko Sakai not avoiding the question at all and saying directly that it was either pure luck or it was a pure joint crime on our part, the host Mr. Sloth would probably have smiled knowingly when he retorted to her.

I think this little girl is quite sincere.

The audience can sense whether a person's words are true or not.

I have seen many greasy old experts like Lao Yang in various talk shows, as well as many slippery formulaic Q&A sessions produced by gallery marketing teams. Occasionally, I meet a girl who is as pure and innocent as a lotus.

It adds a lot of impression.

Gu Weijing looked at the photos on the photo and text page of the podcast "SHOWNOTE". The photos chosen were the costume photos taken by Tokyo Gallery + BTAP for Katsuko Sakai.

In the photo.

The teenage girl sat next to a large trophy that was almost as tall as she was sitting, looking towards the camera with her head tilted.

The eighteen-year-old Gu Weijing and the fourteen-year-old Sakai Katsuko looked at each other for a few seconds across the vast space and time.

He silently turned off the phone screen.

“Think more about the interview.”

Gu Weijing said to himself in his heart.

He closed his eyes.

I leaned my head against the glass of the window behind me, feeling the warmth of the sunlight on my face, and thinking about the seminar shrouded in mysterious fog.

Katsuko Sakai did a great job.

He also has to do well.

Katsuko Sakai tried very hard to protect him.

He should also protect the other person.

Judging from this podcast, if it is just the intensity of Mr. Sloth’s current questions, if it is just the questioning opinions currently circulating on the Internet.

Gu Weijing was confident that he could deal with it appropriately.

The question is...is that all?

The flawless face of the young woman named Anna Elena appeared in his mind.

He did not show any emotion, as if he was looking at a piece of art carved out of crystal from afar.

Old Yang said.

If my luck is exceptionally good or bad, then the people I will talk to face to face at the dialogue session at the Esplanade will be the owners of the Irina family and Oil Painting magazine.

He was no stranger to Miss Elena.

Detective Cat's fame on the Internet stems from this young wealthy woman in a wheelchair. In his suitcase, he even put accessories that she had given him as a gift.

But every time I saw him in a video interview on the Internet, I always had a hazy feeling, like looking at the moon in the water or flowers in the fog.

She is a flower.

She is Mingyue.

She is just a virtual, distant shadow.

Some fragmentary impressions.

Some fragmented figures.

Now, this figure will actually walk in front of him, and if there are any uncontrollable and unknown risks in the conversation in the Esplanade.

It may also come from her.

Gu Weijing was grateful for what Miss Elena had done for Detective Cat, but after what happened with Brother Hao, he really didn't want his fate to be in the hands of others, and to rise and fall with the personal preferences of such a powerful person.

He admired the fierce "queen spirit" in the other person.

Appreciate it as a work of art.

She is perfect when you paint her in a picture or watch her from a distance.

But come a little closer.

You can immediately feel an indescribable sense of distance.

To be honest, a person of his background doesn't really like... the kind of "Countess" who has to practice how to smile in a flattering way in private every time he meets her.

Whether you imagine her as a treasure fish, Hainanese chicken rice or Chinese mitten crab in your mind.

This feeling is totally not cute.

She looks like the kind of princess who is extremely difficult to approach and deal with.

He knew that getting to know a person by watching videos online and listening to other people's gossip would be biased.

Regrettably.

He could call the Singapore Biennale's curatorial assistant and try to meet curator Tonks in advance.

But no matter how courageous and creative Gu Weijing is, he still has many ideas.

He also had no way to make an appointment to meet Miss Elena in advance.

Yes.

He even had Miss Elena's direct contact information, but he knew he couldn't do it.

Maybe Detective Cat can.

But Gu Weijing can't do it.

Curator Tonks can also use "coercion and bribery" to find ways to get through the connections and tiptoe to reach it.

Anna Elena...

For Gu Weijing, no, for the vast majority of people in the art field, or for the vast majority of people in this world, it is a name from a completely different world.

In his luggage were the accessories that the other person wore close to his body.

She is as distant as the stars in the sky.

(End of this chapter)