Almighty painter

Chapter 879: Teacher Anna gives the disobedient student Gu a detention
"Once upon a time there was a lion. All other lions were bad lions. Every day they ate zebras, wildebeests, and all kinds of antelopes. Sometimes bad lions even ate people. They ate Swahili people, Embulu people, Wandorobo people, and they especially liked to eat Indian merchants. These Indian merchants in Africa were all fat and strong, which was very much to the taste of lions."

"This special good lion, a good lion that we like because of his good nature, has wings on his back. Because he has wings, the other lions want to make fun of him."

——The satirical fairy tale The Good Lion by Ernest Hemingway
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"But--"

Mashi III opened his mouth.

But this was not what he imagined.

During this conversation, Ma Shi III could not grasp Gu Tongxiang's true intention.

On the one hand, Mars III quietly told himself that even if there was any inside information, the other party would most likely turn a blind eye to it.

On the other hand, the gallery owner didn't believe that Gu Tongxiang could cover up the matter so well that he couldn't hear any trace of it.

He had met many different kinds of people, heard countless truths, and also heard many times more lies.

Gu Tongxiang can be considered an outlier among the people that Ma Shi III has ever met.

But his voice sounded quite sincere, and this sincerity made Mars III feel an unconcealable disappointment.

He didn't want to hear such a sincere and straightforward answer.

Really don't want to.

Faced with a player he couldn't figure out, Mars III chose to "surrender" and handed over huge amounts of chips to the opponent. Of course, there was the factor of making friends, but it was not for the purpose of secretly taking a look at the opponent's hole cards and only seeing a three of diamonds.

Ok.

Gu Weijing cannot be called a three of diamonds.

Considering himself, his connections, his discovery of Ms. K.'s work, and the relationship between Cao Xuan, even if the relationship between Gu Weijing and Elena's family is really just business is business, he can be considered an Ace of Diamonds.

At this price, what Marcel III wanted to buy was not just an A, but a pair of A, or even a straight flush.

Even if it is a little vague, refuse to answer this question.

Refusing to answer is also an answer.

He looked at the curtains swaying gently in the breeze and listened to the rustling sound of the fabric, which gave him even more room for beautiful imagination.

Instead of simply and roughly tearing the curtain open at this moment, revealing the emptiness behind it.

Ma Shi III was not the kind of person who would be completely fooled by Gu Tongxiang's vague words and hums.

Maybe it was his keen business intuition, maybe it was his suspicion, maybe in this matter, the two were actually the same thing - they were all reminding the big boss that whether he would make the entire call or not, he was talking to himself in front of an empty curtain, struggling hard against a non-existent opponent.

"You are asking for Gu Weijing's opinion, not the Elena family's opinion, right?"

Gu Tongxiang confirmed again.

"If it's the latter, even if it's replaced by a scripture, he won't be able to give you the answer you want."

He has the shrewdness and clumsiness of a petty bourgeois.

Classmate Lao Gu only pretends to be cool within his ability.

A young person can grasp a contract and expectations that match his or her own ambitions, but it is difficult to grasp a contract and expectations that match the ambitions of others.

Because the decision to fill in the answers is not in their hands.

Mashi III said that at Gu Weijing's age, an overpriced contract was not suitable for him.

Gu Tongxiang said that given his grandson's age, a contract that carries excessive expectations may not necessarily be a good thing.

If a lifetime of struggling in a chaotic environment has given Gu Tongxiang something that can barely be called wisdom—

Accepting the ups and downs of nature in the wilderness may not be the best way out for a person, but it is not the worst either.

At least it is better than forcing things to grow too fast because of desire.

It is difficult for ordinary people to grasp the best way out, they can only try their best to avoid the worst answer.

"But he brought back such an important work for the Elena family. Didn't they have a deeper discussion about Gu Weijing's future? Why not try to talk more about it?" Ma Shi III sighed, "If you throw a piece of meat to a wild animal, even the most unpleasant lion or cheetah, at least you can get a satisfied hum. Come out of the bushes and show some goodwill, right?"

"It depends on the situation. You can force an old lion. People can hear the old lion's warning grunts from a long distance, and they will be satisfied if they get a piece of meat. If they hear gunshots and feel danger, they will run forward. But young lions may be like injured lions. They will lie flat and hide in one place. You would think that even a rabbit cannot hide behind the bushes. But once someone enters their territory, they will pounce on them without making a sound if they feel violated."

"Young lions can be quite aggressive."

"Let anyone venture too far into the bushes where these lions live. Someone is bound to get hurt. It's like premeditated murder."

Gu Tongxiang felt that he had a say in this matter.

You can pretend to be a little bit cool.

He casually quoted Teacher Hai's words.

Lion! Lion! Lion!

Hemingway loves lions, people who hunt lions, people who are hunted by lions, and people who dream about lions.

The novel is full of lions running around.

Mashi III was silent for a moment.

He was not used to Gu Tongxiang's transformation from superficial straightforwardness to concise profoundness and roundness, and he frightened the other party again.

Was he answering his own question, or was it a veiled warning?
Is Gu Tongxiang just talking about the lion, the one that will pounce silently once it feels its territory is invaded? Is it the Elena family, or is it Gu Weijing?

And what about the old lion who only knows how to whimper?

Mashi III just felt that there was nothing behind the curtain. He was about to lift the curtain to see what was inside, but the moment his fingertips touched the curtain -

Old man Gu twisted and hummed as he took a bath.

Marcus III believed that he heard the warning gurgling in the throat of the old lion behind the curtain.

Maybe it's because of the conflict of nature.

Mars III hesitated again and again and gave up again.

"Forget it, let's not talk about this. Let's do as we agreed just now. Yes or no, I'm waiting for Gu Weijing to give me an answer." He finally said.

It is better to believe that this kind of thing exists than to believe that it does not exist.

Say.

Fewer restrictions on artists means fewer restrictions on galleries. In addition to the agreed personal exhibition, Gu Weijing wants the Ma Shi Gallery to provide more resources.

He always has to prove himself that he is worth such a price.

"Goodbye, Mr. Ma Shi III, thank you for the contract, I respect you very much." Gu Tongxiang nodded.

"Goodbye, Mr. Gu Tongxiang, I respect you too."

Ma Shi III hung up the phone.

You might think that even a rabbit couldn't hide behind such bushes, but to let anyone explore such bushes would be committing premeditated murder.

The gallery owner thought about Gu Tongxiang's words.

Interesting.

he said to himself.
-
"My grandfather likes to use lions, bulls, or cheetahs as examples. I think the spirit of these animals should also be present in the creation of art—"

More than ten meters away.

On the other side of the opera house's fallen curtains, the conversation between Miss Elena and Gu Weijing entered another stage.

They were talking about Gu Weijing's works on display.

The painting "Lucky Orphanage Under the Sun" in the exhibition hall.

Contrary to what Ma Shi III speculated, Anna really wanted to have a good talk about the "Cui Xiaoming" issue on stage.

Anna has never been one to stoop to trample someone to death if they are too "muddy", especially if they really piss her off.

Even more so.

Just because Miss Elena stomps on you to death without even blinking an eyebrow doesn’t mean she’s too lazy to stomp on you to death with a blank expression.

“Lions always pounce on their prey, whether it’s an antelope or a zebra, or even a rhino in some cases,” Anna said. “It’s a very powerful creature. Auguste Rodin loved lions very much. He believed that when carving a lion, it was better to depict the wild power than the appearance and details. It’s not about carving out its muscles, but carving out the roar that imprisons it.”

The woman's eyes fell on Auguste, who was sitting in the corner and had the same name as the sculptor Rodin.

The dog, who had been secretly looking at this side, noticed his owner's gaze.

It seemed to understand something.

August immediately stood up, turned his head and shook his ears, straightened his shoulders with lion-like smooth hair, turned his head to look at the moon, bared his teeth and revealed a majestic... flattering smile like a lion.

The Springer Spaniel stuck out its tongue and licked Anna Yun twice, but did not bark or pounce on her.

The clever dog noticed that there was something a little subtle about the hostess's mentality.

Anna did not step on Cui Xiaoming to death on the stage, not because women have never had this idea, nor because Anna felt that Gu Weijing had just found Kara's work, and her clear stand in supporting Gu Weijing on important issues was suspected of "exchange of interests."

She’s from the motherland, what does she want to do…well, no, she’s Anna Elena, the art director of Oil Painting magazine.

The most powerful man in the art world.

Anna can give sharp comments to anyone she wants.

"Oil Painting" magazine is too important to care about these gossips.

The status of the Elena family is too high. Taking the initiative to step on someone of Sir Brown's level may be an exchange of interests, and stepping on a gallery of the level of the Metz Gallery may also be the same.

But stepping on Cui Xiaoming is not the right approach.

It's just like stepping on Alexander.

Would you consider dusting off your skirt as some kind of exchange of benefits?

Alexander finally looked at Gu Weijing for help, because even he knew very clearly that this matter really had nothing to do with Gu Weijing.

Didn't Gu Weijing ask Miss Elena to "play" with his feelings?

That's not the case.

It was just that I really made Miss Anna unhappy.

Alexander was casually thrown by Anna to the distant African savannah, where he chased lions or was chased by lions because Miss Elena was unhappy.

The reason why Anna didn't crush Cui Xiaoming to death in the end was because Miss Elena was unhappy.

Unhappy about Gu Weijing's disobedience.

Why, since you think the Elena family’s brutal methods are not good.

Then.

I won't help you solve this problem, okay.

If you want my help, that's fine, it's not too much.

But you have to ask me first, it's that simple.

After the interview, Anna called Xiao Gu over to talk after class, and there was a certain indescribable subtle emotion in her conversation.

just now.

After sending Alexander away, the focus of their conversation finally shifted from Carroll's old oil painting that was at the center of public opinion to Gu Weijing's exhibited oil painting that was at the center of public opinion.

Alexander was never the point of either making Anna happy or irritated.

Carol, it's Kara.

Gu Weijing, he is the one.

August sensed this keenly, and when the topic became subtle, he looked at the hostess and then at Xiao Guzi.

then.

The dog started to run very slowly.

It's quite exquisite.

Detective cat? Woof (disdain), call it a great detective dog.

"Hemingway also liked the metaphor about the lion." Miss Elena glanced at Gu Weijing, "You once mentioned to me that your grandfather Gu Tongxiang loved reading Hemingway."

"Big Love."

Gu Weijing replied.

He placed his hands on his knees with his fingers pressed together.

Miss Elena looked at the other party and asked, "Then do you understand...what the lion is in the artist's dream?"

She thought about it and asked casually, "Is your painting "Good Luck Orphanage in the Sunshine" also inspired by this kind of vitality? Earlier on the stage, I asked you if the inspiration for your painting came from "The Old Church in the Thunderstorm", and you said it was and it wasn't. Can you explain to me what this means?"

“It seems to me that there is a similar vitality flowing through the painting.”

"Thank you for the compliment."

Gu Weijing nodded.

There is vitality flowing in the painting. Maybe this sentence sounds a bit plain, but Gu Weijing thinks it is a very high evaluation.

He painted that picture in order to get such an evaluation.

Miss Anna hit the nail directly on the head.

"Half and half." Gu Weijing thought about it and gave his answer.

"Half and half?" Miss Elena motioned Gu Weijing to continue.

"Lightning pierces the thunderclouds, using light to illuminate something dark... The theme of "Old Church in a Thunderstorm" is about this. In fact, in the early creations, the theme of this painting was about the latter."

"Thunderclouds and darkness?"

Anna said.

"It can be said that the overall atmosphere of the earlier versions of "Good Luck Orphanage in the Sun" is much more gloomy, more gloomy and darker than the real world."

“The relationship between the Imaginary and the Symbolic?” Anna quoted Lacan’s theory of art.

"You asked me."

Gu Weijing smiled and said, "I don't know what the imaginary world and the symbolic world are. Maybe. At the beginning, someone told me to put the seated Madonna at the highest point of the picture, so that its shadow would be projected in the center of the picture. The overall atmosphere of the picture would be a bit gloomy. So gloomy that it was depressing—"

"A symbol of suffering."

Same as before.

Again.

Gu Weijing had only said half of his words when Anna expressed what he wanted to say.

On professional artistic accomplishment.

Anna is much taller than Gu Weijing and also much taller than Chen Shenglin.

“This is very similar to the imagery in ‘The Old Church on a Thunderstorm’.”

(End of this chapter)