Van Gogh Reborn!

Henry Marceau, who had a pleasant meeting with his fans, lay down on the hospital bed. 

Even during the glucose injection, he gritted his teeth and recalled the memories of the afternoon. 

“Damn it.” 

Michelle Platini spoke while drinking orange juice. 

“Why did you promise such a thing? I knew this would happen.” 

Henry Marceau turned his head. 

“……..He's ignoring me.” 

“Well, isn't that just your imagination?”

“Didn't you see him cheer for me, even though he knew I was having a hard time? He did it on purpose.” 

“You’re overthinking it. He’s just a child.” 

“It's because you don't know. He did the same thing when I visited him at the Van Gogh gallery in Amsterdam. He’s screwing me on purpose." 

Michelle Platini shook her head. 

She knew from her years of experience that his stubbornness could not be easily changed, and she knew how to deal with it.

"It's been a while, though. Look it's an article about you." 

Michelle Platini switched on the TV in the hospital room and showed her smartphone.

The news items on the portal site were full of stories about Henry Marceau and Ko Hun. 

Henry Marceau, who was very angry, regained stability reading the articles and comments praising him. 

“I'm really curious.” 

Michelle Platini asked while packing her bag. 

“Why are you so obsessed?” 

“What?” 

“Ko Hun. Is what Caroline Streak said true?”

Michelle Platini wondered if Henry Marceau was really overlapping him on Ko Hun, as Art historian Caroline Streak said. 

“It's a load of crap.” 

No matter how the academicians judge him, at least Henry Marceau didn't think so. 

The only time when he missed his parents and his grandfather, whose face he could not remember unless he looked at pictures or videos, was when he was young.

“Then why……”

Henry Marceau agonized at Michelle Platini's urging.

“That……” 

Then, for the first time, he told someone his innermost thoughts. 

“Because it's unreasonable.”

“Huh?” 

Michelle couldn't make out what he was saying. 

“Everyone has a starting stage. It started only after I entered high school, and Ko Sooyeol was recognized from his undergraduate days. It’s the same for even Pablo Picasso.” 

Henry Marceau wasn't loved from the start. 

Although it drew attention to the fact that the child of the richest family was drawing paintings, it did not last long. 

It was only during his high school days, that he began to build his reputation as a genius painter. 

No one recognized his skills, so in anger, he plastered the billboards at Paris station with his own self-portraits at his own expense, and then slowly people began to recognize him. 

The reasons for becoming famous are different, but there was a time of obscurity for any artist. 

There was a time like that even for the famous Picasso, who shared spoiled sausages brought by the cats to soothe his hunger during his rough days. 

But it wasn't like that for Ko Hun. 

Ko Hun's first painting, [Sunflower] at an ordinary art museum in Seoul, Korea, showed off a master Artist's dignity. 

The reason why many artists are not famous was not necessarily because of their poor work. 

In many cases, it was because they couldn't meet people who recognized their work. 

However, Ko Hun clearly knew how to be recognized and provoked Henry. 

Henry, who shared a few words with Ko Hun, was confident that the boy would be on the world stage in a short period of time. 

The pressure of being the grandson of the great Artist Ko Sooyeol didn't matter at all to him. 

His paintings moved people’s minds and he knew exactly the psychology of the art world. 

As Henry Marceau predicted, Ko Hun rose rapidly, making many anecdotes. 

“I did some research.” 

“What? On Hun?” 

“Uh.” 

Henry Marceau recalled what he had learned about Ko Hun through his secretary, Arsene.

“…He lived in Korea until he was four years old and followed his parents to America. Stayed there for a year and then three years in Paris. Two years in Germany.” 

“You're a little creepy. Did you do a background check on a 10-year-old kid?” 

Michelle Platini frowned at Henry Marceau’s actions. 

Henry Marceau didn't care about Michelle’s reaction. 

He held his numb hand and repeatedly opened and closed it, as he continued the story. 

“The strangest thing is there was no evidence of him drawing during those days with his parents.” 

Michelle opened her eyes wide. 

Ko Hun was an ordinary kid who loved cartoons, and he turned a blind eye to studies because of the frequent moving. 

His grades were at the bottom. 

“He couldn't even speak in English properly, let alone Korean.” 

“Wait. It doesn't make sense.” 

Michelle couldn't believe Henry’s words. 

The Ko Hun she knew was so fluent in French and English and the way he spoke was similar to those used by the upper class. 

“Yeah, it doesn't make sense.”

Henry Marceau clenched his numb hands. 

Like Michelle, Henry also couldn't believe his secretary Arsene's report. 

It was judged that there was a mistake since it was information collected from the neighbors near the houses where the couples lived. 

However, even after checking it repeatedly, the same result kept coming, so he had no choice but to accept the facts. 

“What doesn't make any sense is that he drew such a painting three to four months after he woke up from an accident.” 

Henry thought of Ko Hun’s first work [Sunflower]. 

“And now he's being treated like me.” 

Henry Marceau didn't care how Ko Hun could speak multiple languages in a short time. 

He didn't want to waste his time doubting the incomprehensible supernatural powers. 

However, he didn't like the fact that a 9-year-old boy's painting moved his heart. 

Henry Marceau fervently longed for Ko Hun's work, but at the same time, he couldn’t accept it. 

He had been running around the world and looking at paintings since he was young, so he could not admit that such a thing was possible without effort. 

“If he really woke up and just started painting, then he must be a natural genius.”

“………”

“I can't be pushed back by his natural talent.” 

Michelle could understand why Henry was so obsessed with him. 

Henry gave his everything to paintings, even before he was started being called a genius 

Even now, when he was considered one of the most influential painters of the current era, he still worked hard and focused more than anyone else. 

That's why he didn't want to admit that someone who just woke up and became a great Artist. 

No, he couldn't admit it. 

The contradictory situation, in which his heart was moved by Ko Hun's work but at the same time he couldn’t recognize the work because of his pride, created his abnormal behavior. 

‘That’s why…..' 

Michelle seemed to have finally got the answer to the question that had been bothering her for a while. 

She understood why Henry, who was not obsessed with Jang Mirae or Ferdinando Gonzalez, was obsessed with Ko Hun and why he was hostile to him. 

⏪ ⏪ ⏪ ⏪ ⏪ ⏪

A few hours ago.

When Ko Hun and Henry Marceau were showing off their friendship again at a signing event, Ko Sooyeol visited an old friend. 

“Ferdinando.” 

Ferdinando Gonzalez welcomed Ko Sooyeol who had come to his hotel room. 

“Welcome.” 

An artificial smile to reassure Ko Sooyeol only made him more worried. 

“What happened?” 

“I'm just not feeling well. Sit down.” 

Ferdinando bought a chair for Ko Sooyeol. 

“It’s just a normal body ache after a few days of hard work preparing for the individual event.” 

Ko Sooyeol judged that it was not an easy matter to think about if Ferdinando, who cares very much about fans, refused the signing event. 

“You shouldn't be like this, you should go to the hospital.” 

“That's alright. Really, I'm just a little tired these days. I'm going to take a break for a while.” 

Ferdinando recommended a bottled drink, reassuring Ko Sooyeol. 

“Are you sure you're alright?” 

“Yes, by the way, it was great. [Mask] – it was a perfect performance." 

Ferdinando recalled the sunflower that appeared when Ko Hun tore off the painting. 

Ko Hun painted sunflower petals in monochrome, and the shading was expressed only by rubbing oil pastels. 

The sunflowers surrounded by green leaves were dazzling. 

It was a shock to rip off a self-portrait that was similar to Van Gogh’s work and reveal such a painting. 

Some commented that Ko Hun boldly insisted on the distinction between him and Van Gogh, while others criticized it as an arrogant act that he was trying to say he was better than the legendary painter of the past. 

“He had a hard time. At first, instead of tearing it, he tried to peel it off by painting over it.” 

Ferdinando opened his eyes wide and tilted his upper body forward. 

He wondered what process he went through from the scrapito technique to tearing the drawing paper.

“He tried it a few times and realized it wasn't working. He wanted the peeled paint to harden.” 

“It's hard.” 

“So he found another way in about two weeks. He overlapped the canvas, and it was hard to tear, so he replaced the front with drawing paper.” 

The more he heard the explanation, the more fascinating it was to Ferdinando Gonzalez. 

It would have been easier to accept if he thought Ko Hun had a natural talent and made [Mask] with the spirit given by God. 

However, Ko Hun's work process was thoroughly textbook-style of how Master Artist’s work. 

With a clear heart that wants to remove the image cast on him. 

He repeatedly tried to achieve it by setting the goal of showing a painting below another painting. 

In other words, Ko Hun was simply an ideal artist, not just simply a ‘genius’. 

He completed his work by partially modifying his methods and goals through failures.

“That's amazing.” 

Ferdinando Gonzalez was really impressed. 

Many people treat the artist's work as very special, but in fact, such cases were extremely rare. 

He thought that it was harder to have such a natural talent, and the only way to create such true work was to have passion. 

To think about the work not only when he was awake but also in sleep. 

The process is long and difficult, and the work will be complete only when he finally finds the answer he wants. 

These efforts and thoughts were way above the realm of talent. 

Talent was considered unparalleled, noble, and valuable. 

Therefore, it felt much more than just that in the case of Ko Hun, who was willing to enjoy such a hard process. 

“You taught him well.” 

Ko Sooyeol laughed in vain at Ferdinando Gonzalez's words. 

“By the way, are you preparing for an individual exhibition? Ferdinando.” 

“Yes. I submitted it this time for the Whitney Biennale, so I was going to put it on hold for a little longer, but as I looked around the Whitney Biennale, I couldn’t stay put."

“I agree with you. There are a lot of great works this year.”

“Shouldn't you also start preparing for an exhibition? How long are you going to make me wait?” 

“Hahaha! I came here to take you to the hospital, but now you are giving me an idea to make me lie on the hospital bed.” 

The two friends, who are 25 years apart, laughed loudly.

(To be Continued)

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