Almighty painter

Chapter 1059 The Myth of Craftsmanship
Looking back at history from the perspective of the art industry in 2030, the name "Hunter Bull" now represents more of a nostalgia for the past.

It's like sitting on the beach at dusk, playing a classic old song on an old record player. The sharp stylus glides across the worn-out dial of the vinyl record, occasionally passing through some bumps and gaps, making a "squeaking" sound.

People say this can be a lifestyle and a retro craft.

It doesn't have to be perfect.

That "scrambled beans" sound is also part of appreciating vinyl records, just as imperfection is also part of time.

Of course, of course, all of these are correct.

But everything about "Hunter Bull," all his glories, is already in the past tense; his last exhibition was a generation ago, while Gu Weijing is in the present tense.

Just like Elvis Presley, no matter how long he stayed at the top of the charts, whether it was 26 weeks or 30 weeks, and how many millions or tens of millions of his records were sold, those glorious memories are already etched in time.

Nowadays, the vast majority of young people no longer buy vinyl records.

From a technical standpoint, in terms of music quality, the richness of sound capture, and the technical details of recording, how can the traditional stylus-based sound production method be compared to lossless music on Apple Music?
Not only critics think this way, but collectors think this way, and perhaps even the magazine "Oil Painting" thinks this way.

From a business perspective, looking back ten years later, the board's decision to sign Hunter Bull, offering him the largest contract in the history of art and giving Mr. Elvis a lifetime contract, was not a wise investment.

It was more than a wise investment.

The board of directors of "The Painting" felt they had been scammed, and Kruger Brothers Bank felt they had lost a fortune. Hunter Bull took hundreds of millions of dollars, but didn't hold exhibitions, marketing events, or auctions... He really just slacked off whenever possible, doing absolutely nothing of substance, making him a true king of slacking off.

This is the complete opposite of Gu Weijing's approach.

The Hermès Gallery gave Gu Weijing an extremely lenient contract, from which Gu Weijing made a great deal of money. He even went so far as to buy the Hermès Gallery and, with the gallery’s deep-rooted influence in Europe, stirred up a bloody storm within the Hamburg Association of Painters and Musicians.

Although the Hermès Gallery is now under the name "Gu," it is a win-win situation for both the gallery and Gu Weijing.

Both sides made a lot of money.

Win twice.

But the agency agreement between "The Oil Painting" and Hunter Bull appears to be a lose-lose situation.

Oil Painting magazine also offered Hunter Bull an extremely lenient agency contract, and then... the old man showed Oil Painting magazine what it means to just sit idly by.

To be honest, when the contract was first signed, Sir Brown seriously considered whether, given Hunter Bull's influence and legendary life, he might be looking to cause trouble and seize power after returning to the magazine.

Don't let yourself get rid of the Elena family with the help of the board of directors, set up a profitable business, only to find that you've also gotten rid of the board of directors.

Wouldn't that make him look like a fool?
Chairman Brown looked at Hunter Bull with a smile, while inwardly considering various contingency plans.

The esteemed lord had no idea that, a few years later, he would be begging Hunter Bull to come and stir up trouble for him.

"Brother, please, please, stop arguing, brother. You have to prove yourself!! You are Hunter Bull, you are a legend. You are Elvis, not Magikarp."

Hunter Bull looked at the board of directors of the Oil Painting magazine with a nervous gaze.

He exhaled a smoke ring.

Magikarp unleashed Splash!
however……

Nothing happened.

If Hunter Bull had shown even the slightest bit of ambition, he wouldn't have been completely devoid of it.

He made such a grand entrance when he joined the magazine, but what happened? Now, all he feels is disappointment. Hunter Bull is a giant whale lurking in the sea.

When the board of directors of the magazine "Oil Painting" hoisted Hunter Bull from the Mariana Trench, they thought it would be a dragon emerging from the sea, but it turned out to be just a salted fish lying flat.

Mr. Bull lay in bed for twenty years.

Then the board of directors of "Oil Painting" spent a nine-figure sum to turn his career around, and then, nothing more.

Boole continued to lie there for another ten years.

Kruger Bank is ready to fight this old man to the death; he's really been a rip-off.

In terms of wealth, Kruger Bank surpasses the Elena family; in terms of status, *Painting* magazine also surpasses the Elena family. In terms of industry standing, Hunter Bull was simply not in a position to challenge Gu Weijing, at least not ten years ago.

From any angle.

The combination of Hunter Bull and the Oil Painting magazine is a Pro, Plus, Max, Ultra version of Gu Weijing and Anna Elena.

Sir Brown would think that under such circumstances, they might lose, but it's unlikely they will.

It's not about winning or losing; it's like a real-life version of the movie "Rocky," with a world champion fighting a fledgling boxer. Everyone thinks you'll win, and you should win, including in the movie's ending, where the champion still wins.

But if Gu Weijing really unleashes his full potential, with background music playing and him running and jumping rope while singing "Trying hard now! Getting strong now!" in the boxing ring...

The two fought back and forth for twelve rounds, and finally, when the referee counted down to nine, Gu Weijing, covered in blood, stood up from the table, walked over and hugged his coach Anna. Anna held up a cat and shouted, "Remember Eye of Tiger!" Then he nodded, turned around and delivered a powerful punch to Hunter Bull's waist, knocking him to the ground.

Ok.

The magazine "Oil Painting" simply accepted it.

That's the magic of the Elena family; the old Viennese are truly powerful, this is the kind of thing they do. They even brought a speaker to the competition, with background music playing.

This is clearly a plot-driven death; there's nothing we can do about it.

That's how it is in the boxing ring; in the end, it's all about fists. No matter how much you brag, if you get beaten, you get beaten.

If you're not as skilled as others, then you're not as skilled as others. All of Gu Weijing's achievements today are entirely due to others.

You have to admit defeat.

But what on earth is this?!
"World boxing champion Tyson versus boxing kid, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Madison Square Garden! This is the most anticipated fight ever, the real THE MONEY FIGHT! A unification bout of the world's four major boxing organizations, the winner will take home over $200 million, with off-field betting exceeding $2 billion. Tyson is now receiving the cheers of the crowd. Today, we are honored to see Tyson's most iconic U-shaped stance again, the one he once knocked out a 200-pound British strongman with a single punch… We've noticed that the off-field odds are overwhelmingly in favor of the winner, with 37% believing the fight will end within three rounds, and 92% believing Gu Weijing cannot last the entire match…"

"The gong sounds, the competition officially begins!"

"Tyson is striding forward, while the boxing kid is cautiously retreating. What! Tyson is running! We rarely see this in the boxing ring. He seems eager to finish the fight in the first round. He weighs more than twice as much as his opponent, and in the heavyweight division, every pound... wait!"

"Jesus."

"What I saw was Tyson just vaulting over the hurdles and sprinting out of Madison Square Garden!"

The scene was completely silent.

The boxing champion ran away.

Sir Brown, the board of directors of the Oil Painting magazine, and the Kruger Brothers Bank adorned Hunter Bull's chest with olive oil, laurel branches, and real gold dust, making him shine like Apollo, the sun god of Greek mythology.

Then, swirling his wine glass in the casino, he gambled away New York City buildings and Swiss bank drafts, staring into Miss Elena's eyes and saying, "Sorry, the King of Gamblers is the King of Gamblers. This time, I'll beat you by another 36 million."

Behind him, his underling Ole secretly started playing Gao Jin's signature background music, "Clang... clang clang clang," through a speaker.

then.

Then, under the completely silent gaze of the entire arena, the boxing champion, wearing the laurel wreath, turned and left.

Then let me ask you, let me ask you, Sir Brown is going to grab you by the neck, so let me ask you, is this a fucking question about losing, cops! Where are the cops? This fucking match is being fixed.

This boxing champion must have secretly bought the ticket outside the ring.

While Gu Weijing was still quietly farming minions and developing his character, Hunter Bull took the six-item build that he had bought for him by selling his possessions of the magazine "Oil Painting" and went out, then started AFK farming in the fountain.

Hunter Bull—you old codger, you're an undercover agent for the Elena family?

The signing of Hunter Boor by Oil Painting magazine is perhaps the biggest joke in the industry over the past decade. The more prestigious the collaboration between Maestro Gallery and Gu Weijing, the more ridiculed Oil Painting's partnership with Hunter Boor became.

Everyone thought that Hunter Bull agreed to come out of retirement simply to get a large sum of money from the magazine "Painting" for his retirement.

Even the "Oil Painting" team has fast-forwarded from the anticipation phase to the point where RMN is paying back the money.

Krug Bank did consider suing Hunter Bull, arguing that he had not faithfully performed his agency agreement, constituting a substantial breach of contract.

If this incident hadn't looked so farcical, it could have caused irreparable damage to the public image of "The Painting" and the entire Muse Project.

Hunter Bull may stand in the dock of the "Painting" magazine even earlier than Gu Weijing, which is the most comical part of the whole thing.

Do it all at once, second time tired, third time exhausted.

Seven years have passed, a period in which the art market's second wave of anticipation for Hunter Bull has gradually faded and cooled. It has also been seven years of Gu Weijing's relentless and triumphant progress.

Tyson is old, too old to throw a punch anymore, and his hair has turned completely white.

The young boxer is at his peak, having just completed a spectacular 49-fight undefeated title defense. He even ranked among the most influential figures in the arts in a financial magazine.

Gu Weijing ranked fifth, his highest ranking in the past decade, marking his first time entering the top five in over ten years. Hunter Bull ranked fourteenth, his lowest ranking in the past decade, and the first time in nearly ten years that he has officially fallen out of the top ten.

In terms of reputation, popularity, and even personal wealth.

This year.

Gu Weijing has officially surpassed Hunter Bull, who had been largely unknown for over a decade. This ranking would be a great honor for many artists, but for Hunter Bull, the chief painter of the magazine "Painting," it even seems somewhat bleak.

Everyone will grow old.

And the once invincible boxing champion should not have such a ridiculous ending.

In fact, many people believe that Hunter Bull should never have reappeared.

He should have died in California in 1999.

If he had simply drunk too much and died in the golden river of Hollywood in the last year of the century, during his glorious era like Jackson Pollock or even Lennon, it wouldn't be as lamentable as it is now.

……

"The easel is ready, sir. And here are your paints and brushes."

Regardless of whether it makes people criticize his decadence and incompetence.

Hunter Bull is Hunter Bull, the world's fourteenth-ranked boxing champion.

As long as he wants.

He could have his own easel next to any art museum in Switzerland.

"Where are the ashtray and lighter?"

"Boll asked."

“Uh, I’m sorry, smoking is prohibited in the art museum, sir,” the deputy director said.

Smoking is going too far.

This isn't a museum from the 1910s. No museum would allow smoking in its galleries, not even if his name was Hunter Bull. That painting next to him is worth over $2000 million. The insurance company would choose to hang himself with a tie, though they'd probably come and strangle him before they did.

"It's such a shame, I like to smoke when I'm painting."

Boole shook his head.

He took half a second to weigh the appeal of copying the painting in the exhibition versus smoking outside, and he felt that Gu Weijing's painting seemed less necessary than cigarettes.

then.

"Then take the easel outside and put it next to Rodin's work."

Hunter Bull said.

The curator wanted to ask the guy what he was up to, but seeing his pensive look, he didn't dare to ask. He just waved his hand, signaling the security guard to move the easel out.

It refers to the time it took for the staff to prepare the easel.

Hunter Bull closed his eyes.

He took ten deep breaths, examined the thoughts that were passing through his mind, shook his head, and drove them all out of his head.

Do you know what I'm doing?

"Boll asked."

"Meditation?" the curator asked.

"No, I'm telling myself to give Gu Weijing another chance."

Hunter Bull said that he reopened his eyes, banished all distractions, and simply looked, as if seeing the painting for the first time, to appreciate Gu Weijing's "The Human Comedy," to see all his brushstrokes, colors, and light and shadow. He admired this work of exquisite brushwork.

"Uh."

Will Hunter Bull give Gu Weijing another chance? If he doesn't give Gu Weijing another chance, how will he find one?

for a long time.

This Mr. Elvis was known for his eccentric personality, and even by the standards of a madman, what he said was incoherent and illogical.

The curator really didn't understand what he was trying to say.

Just trying to show off on the spot.

Ten years ago, Hunter Bull didn't need to show off in front of Gu Weijing. Ten years later, even if Hunter Bull wanted to show off in front of Gu Weijing, he probably wouldn't be able to do it very well.

Madmen never need anyone's understanding.

Hunter Bull has looked at the painting again from beginning to end.

"Is Gu Weijing the only one capable of creating such a work?" Bu Er thought to himself.

"Shit."

He said.

He turned around and strode out of the exhibition hall.
-
Hunter Bull stood by the easel at the main entrance of the museum, and a staff member set up a small coffee table on which he placed the painting supplies he wanted.

He didn't pick up the painting tools immediately.

Mr. Bull stretched his hand out of his sleeve; it was a pair of large, bony hands with distinct knuckles.

His skin used to be delicate, like a woman's hand.

now.

The signs of aging are clearly visible on his hands. Whether one is wealthy or impoverished, the brush of time will always leave its mark on your body. He spent the most glorious years of his life in California, where he was once a neighbor of Marlon Brando.

Hunter Bull had seen how time could alter those exceptionally beautiful faces.

Those Hollywood stars, male or female, always try every possible way to escape the passage of time.

So far.

Hunter Bull has never met a truly successful person.

He was slightly lost in thought, staring at his fingers for a few breaths before raising his head and gently clapping his hands.

this time.

Hunter Bull's applause wasn't loud, but just like it had been in the exhibition hall before, it easily attracted the attention of everyone around him.

"Hey."

"Please take out your phones, everyone," the painter said, repeating exactly what the security guard had said.

"I don't really understand this, what's TikTok or YouTube? Please turn on the live stream and film me."

He didn't need to say anything.

In this internet age, from the moment someone recognized Hunter Bull in the exhibition hall, cell phone cameras were already pointed at him.

Hunter Bull picked up the lighter from the table, took out a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it.

"Gu Weijing—"

“Child. Look at me, I am talking to you.”
-
new York.

Sky Garden Restaurant.

Gu Weijing was watching the live stream on his phone.

"For the past seven years, no, to be precise, for the past ten years, I have been waiting for you."

Through the phone camera, the man smoking a cigarette mumbled, "I've been giving you chances. I felt that appearing too early... wouldn't be fair to you."

"I have spent the first half of my life surrounded by the spotlight."

"Now, these lights and cameras should belong to you."

(End of this chapter)