Professor Vatel silently flipped through the thick file in his hand, not knowing what kind of comment he should make at this moment.
Professor Watter came to the principal to see if he could hire a better sketch teacher for Gu Weijing.
He didn't know why Mrs. Sakai's advanced class didn't choose to recruit Gu Weijing as a student. It would be great if the principal could open his mouth and send Gu Weijing into Mrs. Sakai's hands.
At the very least, the principal can write a letter of recommendation to Gu Weijing himself.
Such children deserve a better stage by nature, sign up for galleries and follow the art route in the future.
The world's top-ranked art school is his stage.
You can find master-level teachers there, and you can easily find better opportunities for fame than in Yangon.
Art history is a weird circle—it’s not worth discussing who is more powerful, whether it’s civilian science or researchers in academia.
There is no precise conclusion on who is better between academics and artists who practice wild fox Zen on the street.
Usually the skills of the former will be stronger, but the genius who can rewrite the history of art will never fall into this "normal" category.
Either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind overpowers the east wind.
Starting from the end of the Middle Ages, the main thread of the story of artistic trends is always similar.
Various scattered artists and small unsuccessful painting schools emerged from among the people.
From being suppressed by academics in mainstream painting schools and art academies, to conquering the citizens with the expressiveness of their works and outstanding talents, and forming a trend to follow them, to being suppressed by some people in power or the Medici family, the Scuderia, etc. The Lovini family and the Irina family, these famous collectors in history, value and sponsor it.
Eventually it became a new academic school, and then began to suppress other small painters...
From fighting the evil dragon to becoming the evil dragon, there is a continuous spiral cycle with each other.
In one story, a new school of painting set off radical changes in art. In the next story, a hundred years later, it turned into an academic boss who persisted in the past and was clamored to be overthrown by the new generation of artists.
A bit of black humor based on the historical cycle of dynasties.
In the late 19th century, the industrial age began.
Impressionism, romanticism, aestheticism, critical realism...
Almost the general trend of history in the East and the West is that various unorthodox small art gangs in the folk art world launch attacks and academic criticisms on the professors sitting in the official salons of the Academy of Fine Arts, and beat them to the ground, leading to great changes.
The paradoxical thing is.
Many outsiders don't realize that since the Impressionist generation of folk artists who flourished with a hundred flowers have retired, almost all the famous artists born after the painting world have professional backgrounds and prestigious school backgrounds.
Any of the darlings at auctions in the past half century were all art students who graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts.
There are very few people who make the transition from being a missionary to another career, like Van Gogh, or a porcelain shop apprentice like Renoir.
The public image of artists such as Damien Hirst and KAWS in the mass media is already quite "rock and roll".
As a young man, Hearst was a straight-up gang member, a gangster, and twice imprisoned.
This kind of resume can easily be regarded as some little bastard who didn't attend prenatal education.
But sorry,
He is a serious graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts, University of London, which is ranked among the top ten in the world.
Painters began to become like technical professions such as lawyers and doctors - "going to college changes your destiny."
The more prestigious a graduate is, the more popular they are.
Well-known galleries tend to give priority to students with backgrounds from prestigious schools.
After students from the visual arts departments of the world's four major art academies graduate, as long as their level is acceptable, the works in the graduation exhibition can show some of their own characteristics.
It’s too high to dare to expect. In an art and creative park in a metropolitan area, it’s not difficult to sign up for a medium-sized ordinary city gallery.
Professor Wattel thinks.
With Gu Weijing's current level of painting, if he hadn't applied to some powerful art schools, it would be unfair to Gu Weijing and his painting skills.
Now seeing the document in his hand, he could only smile bitterly again and again.
There was absolutely no need for him to speak.
In Dulwich College's own evaluation system, joining the official art association organized by local professional artists is an achievement comparable to high-level athletes such as professional baseball students who are sought after across the United States.
Although not every European and American country recognizes the value of being a formal member of the Painting and Calligraphy Association under the Myanmar Culture Department.
Some school policies allow for special admission without examination, while others are just bonus points during the interview, or the interviewer thinks you are pretty good and can grant you a special scholarship.
But it’s also a pretty resume.
Especially the photo co-signed with Cao Xuan is actually the best letter of recommendation and stepping stone.
It would be much more useful than his suggestion that the principal write a personal letter and say hello to the interviewer in advance.
Whether it is relying on connections or real ability - if a big artist is willing to collaborate with him on a painting, the interviewer will not turn away such a student if he is not stupid.
"It's just me being overly sentimental. This guy has already prepared a great background for himself."
Professor Vatel looked at this unrealistic and somewhat fantasy mural photo and signature, and rubbed his nose.
If he hadn't known that Mr. Cao Xuan really came to Yangon at the beginning of the year.
Drawing professors would think that this photo was synthesized in PS.
The documents here are quite thick, with more than one photo of the mural.
When Mr. Wu was approved for joining the association, he wanted to make Gu Weijing's resume more substantial and beautiful, so that it would not look like he was using his public power for private purposes to use the back door for the neighbor's children.
The old man included many promotional materials taken by the Tourism Bureau during the Shwedagon Pagoda project.
Professor Vatel saw the gold-lacquered list of thanks on the monument where Gu Weijing was ranked before Sakai Katsuko, the photos of the big shots watching and commenting on Gu Weijing's sketches, and even a picture of Mr. Cao Xuan instructing Gu on the spot. A snapshot taken while painting the scriptures.
This was probably a scene captured from a distance by a photographer hired by a tourism bureau with a telephoto lens.
Two people, an old man and a young man, stood in front of an ancient mural.
Old Cao held a brush in his hand, while Gu Weijing stood beside the little old man like a little follower.
The background of the photos taken with the telephoto lens is extremely blurred.
The content on the mural is only blurred color spots, but Mr. Cao Xuan's facial features are clearly shown.
The old man pursed his lips and looked sideways at the young man beside him. There was no sign of kindness on his face. It had a very serious expression, but it didn't seem alienated.
In the picture,
The old gentleman's expression did not have the indifference and perfunctory attitude that a famous artist would have towards young people who come to gild.
There is no gilded young man in Myanmar who is worthy of Mr. Cao's perfunctory treatment.
Professor Vatel inexplicably felt that the expression on the great artist's face reminded him of his own appearance when he was giving a serious lecture in the classroom.
The little old man seems to be really teaching Gu Weijing seriously?
"No wonder my line ability has improved so rapidly, but I still pretend that I figured it out all by myself, without hiring a private teacher. Oh, this is not a private teacher, it's a one-on-one quality class."
The sketching professor puffed up his cheeks in envy and scratched his head jealously.
Industry specializing in surgery.
But Eastern art masters have very, very high ability to draw lines. This view is also recognized in Western academic circles.
When people paint a work, whether it is fine brushwork or freehand brushwork, it does not rely on changes in focus or scaling of large and small proportions.
It depends on the lines in your hand.
Cao Xuan is not without critics in the art world, but no critic would ever think that Cao Xuan's painting techniques are not strong enough.
With the personal guidance of such a master of art, my understanding will be even better.
Sketching techniques can be understood by analogy and have improved dramatically in a short period of time, which makes it reasonable.
"What luck... I can't afford this kind of teacher."
Wattel had mixed feelings in his heart.
He once thought that if he knew where Gu Weijing learned his craft, he would enroll himself in a class.
Think about it now,
Professor Watter was thankful that he did not say this in front of Gu Weijing, otherwise he would have been embarrassed for himself.
He couldn't afford a private teacher like Cao Xuan for hundreds or thousands of dollars.
I can't even afford to sell him.
Canadian principals do not have such complicated moods.
He was just fiddling with the globe in his office.
The principal likes to play around with this stuff when he has nothing to do.
It is a souvenir given by the Dulwich Teachers Group to the top leaders of each campus at the principal meeting.
The globe is made of brass, the size of a volleyball, with reliefs of undulating mountains and hills, and the English abbreviations of Dulwich on different continents are also marked with red paint.
Each abbreviation represents a Dulwich campus around the world.
The Myanmar campus has always been the most inconspicuous one among them.
Sometimes the board of directors will not be willing to send outstanding teachers to Myanmar. Coupled with the unstable current situation, there are often rumors of wanting to abolish and close the Myanmar campus.
After three years of silence, it became a blockbuster.
This year not only welcomed the heavyweight transfer student Sakai Katsuko, but also a classmate won the highest-level badge of the British Boy Scouts, and now there is also a "Young Artist".
The latter two are local students who have attended Dulwich College for several years.
Compared with the honor of co-creating with students in the school and about the top five masters in the world.
In the eyes of the principal, even Jerry's charity micro-movie became distasteful.
"Well, let's see. This Gu Weijing is a student who originally enjoyed the scholarship's fixed tuition fee exemption. Forget it in previous years, I think it's better to refund all the tuition he paid this year. It can be regarded as a preferential treatment given to him by the school. Then, What do you think about making a copy of all the information in these photo files and creating a special promotional wall for Student Gu?"
The principal said casually.
"I don't know. Anyway, he doesn't need to come to my class in the future. I don't have the ability to teach such students. He can do whatever he likes."
Professor Wattel put all the materials back on the table and answered without interest.
He originally felt that Gu Weijing was very similar to him, but he worked hard but lacked some luck, so he came to help.
Bad luck?
Bad luck!
This lucky ancestral grave is almost on fire.
Professor Vatel looked at the photos on the table and felt aggrieved and didn't want to speak.
Back then, if I had only had a one-tenth chance of finding a master to give me some advice, I would no longer be a sketch teacher in Myanmar.
"Then let's do this. Keep your sketch and put it on the publicity wall."
The principal didn't ask Professor Vatel for his opinion, so he made his decision immediately.
——
Spring is in full bloom.
A ball was kicked high from the football field, jumped over the fence beside the green field, bounced a few times on the concrete floor, and finally landed in the open space at the school gate.
The forward wearing the school football number wiped his sweat and ran over after the ball, then slowly slowed down, with a black question mark on his face.
in sight,
After school, the students stood by the cultural propaganda wall at the entrance of the campus. In a short time, a group of people including the senior students had gathered.
Some students were tiptoeing to look inside, and some were chattering about something.
Coupled with the chirping of cicadas and birds all around, it was as lively as a themed temple fair.
This is the cultural promotion wall on campus.
Normally no one would bother to take a look at it.
If there is any interesting news suddenly, starting from the first person stopping, like a chain reaction, everyone will subconsciously follow the herd mentality and want to see what is on it.
Is there any announcement of another competition?
It would be great if I could have a fellowship with a girls' school this year.
The forward hesitated for a moment, unable to resist the curiosity in his heart. Holding the ball he picked up, he took advantage of the physical advantages of the members of the sports club and jumped left and right in the crowd. He squeezed to the front amidst the complaints of his classmates. Row.
"Gu Weijing - a young artist and a good role model for outstanding Dulwich people?"
He sniffed and slowly read the text on the bulletin board.
The forward was a bit disappointed.
He didn't see news about the young and beautiful girls he hoped to see, but instead saw a picture of a thin male senior wearing a Dulwich uniform.
Private high schools have many campus activities.
The large publicity board at the entrance of the school is often filled with registration notices for various robotics competitions, social dances, planetarium visits, and paid study tours to European and American universities during the winter and summer vacations.
The only exception is the billboard at the front.
That is the principal's private area.
The principal of Dulwich College likes to put the most popular promotional content in a period of time here. Some time ago, this place has been Mrs. Sakai’s notice of the opening of the advanced class and the admission list.
He heard that she was a rich and wealthy lady.
Now the exhibition board has been replaced with a full-length photo of the guy named Gu Weijing. Next to it, in addition to the dry and untrue title of "Young Artist," there is also a copy of a document stamped with the seal of the Cultural Affairs Bureau.
"Holy crap, he is a formal member of the Painting and Calligraphy Association at the age of seventeen. Doesn't this mean he can be directly recommended to all universities in Myanmar?"
"This Senior Gu can draw with Cao Xuan, but I don't know what his family's background is. He probably doesn't like local universities in Myanmar at all."
…
"Hey, is this recognition of a formal member of the Painting and Calligraphy Association so powerful? Can you directly attend all our local universities? Even the best Yangon University in Myanmar? You only need to join this Painting and Calligraphy Association, and You art students really take advantage of this policy."
The forward of the football club, like Gu Weijing's cousin Gu Lin, is an ordinary student in the school and is not in an art class.
So I don’t have much idea about this identity.
He heard people's comments and jealously patted the shoulder of the classmate next to him who was staring at the "high-level artist" certification notice with an envious look on his face, and asked.
"Take advantage?"
The fat guy wearing glasses is obviously an art student.
He turned around and looked at the striker with the ball in his hand, and was particularly dissatisfied with his behavior of standing and talking without pain in his back.
He squinted his eyes: "You can take advantage of this by practicing football. If you can play for Myanmar's U16, you can also be recommended to go to your country's university without taking the exam. It's not difficult for famous European schools, do you have this level!"
"so smart."
The forward was nudged neither softly nor hard, but he understood the general weight of this senior.
Those who can play in the U16 youth professional football league are all monsters. Those who perform well are the prospects for the national team, the Asian Cup, and the World Cup qualifiers in the future.
Club enthusiasts like him are at best semi-amateurs, but that's far from the truth.
Of course, those who can play U16 almost all go to professional clubs, and few choose to go to college.
"You can't compare like that. You are art students and I am not a sports school student."
Seeing that this matter had nothing to do with his own eight-pole, the striker turned around and prepared to withdraw. Before squeezing out of the crowd, he stopped again and asked casually.
"This old man's name is Cao Xuan. What does he do? Is he famous?"
The principal of Dulwich College was so stupid that he posted the mural created by Cao Xuan and Gu Weijing on the bulletin board.
He also made the signature of the creator [Cao Xuan/Gu Weijing] bold, black, and very large.
Apart from Gu Weijing's half-length photo, this joint signature is the most conspicuous in the entire bulletin board.
The Canadians just set up a small speaker here and played it in a loop: "Big news, big news, our students co-created with Mr. Cao Xuan. Big news, big news, our students co-created with Mr. Cao Xuan." La……"
The crowd of art students looking at the clipboard were willing to comment when they saw the certificate of recognition from the Yangon Painting and Calligraphy Association.
But when Cao Xuan was mentioned, everyone fell into an inexplicable hesitation.
"Oh, Cao Xuan."
"It turned out to be Cao Xuan."
"Is it really that Cao Xuan?"
"It seems that Mr. Cao Xuan did come to Yangon some time ago."
This atmosphere reminds the striker of the feeling when gangsters mention The Godfather in gangster movies.
It seems that the name "Cao Xuan" carries so much weight that no one even has the courage to talk about him.
"Little Fatty, who is more powerful, him or Mrs. Sakai from before?"
The little fat man curled his lips and looked at him with the eyes of an art bumpkin: "You don't understand anything, you can go back to Google yourself."
"This guy also has a Wikipedia page? Too lazy to check, just tell me."
"Professor Cruz's husband is a leading painter in Asia, but he is still a whole level behind Mr. Cao Xuan. Do you know Picasso? Have you heard of Andy Warhol? This Cao Xuan's status is not Much weaker than them."
"I've heard about Picasso. Their works combined are worth hundreds of millions of dollars. It's so cool to be signed by such a great artist."
The student holding the football was shocked.
"It would be awesome if a football player could play with Messi, it would be awesome if a singer could hold a concert with Taylor Swift, and it would be awesome to jointly paint a painting with Mr. Cao Xuan."
The little fat man folded his arms together.
He looked proud of the fact that he admired and admired the seniors of the school: "By the way, let me tell you, there is no accurate statistics on how valuable the life works of great artists such as Picasso and Andy Warhol are. But 100 million US dollars? Oh, doubling it and adding another zero is the minimum.”
It’s a number that’s enough to make your pupils dilate when you listen to it.
Doubling $100 million and adding zero equals $2 billion.
Yangon is the most economically developed region in Myanmar, with a population of 7.3 million and a total GDP of 4 trillion kyats in 2019, which is almost exactly the same number.
If the word "extremely rich" is a bit exaggerated.
So there is no way that the most cutting-edge rich man in the art industry can support a city with a population of one million on his own.
The forward tried hard to connect the number of coins of the order of four trillion kyats with the dry name in the bulletin board.
Then he moved it to the thin face of the senior next to him.
"Fuck."
He stood there blankly, and the ball fell from his hand.
No one laughed.
This "f*ck" echoed the sentiments of all the students who saw the contents of this promotional board.
Many of these onlookers were Gu Weijing's classmates.
When they see the photos posted on publicity boards or student groups, the only thing that shocks them is the word "fuck" that keeps circulating.
Am I stupid?
Damn it!
I'm in trouble! ! !
Mrs. Cruz and Katsuko Sakai meet every day in school, but their mother and daughter are like a gorgeous fire cloud floating in the sky.
Beautiful, but unreal.
to be honest,
They have nothing to do with you either.
Everyone is either about to become an adult or has already reached adulthood. The school spirit of the private aristocratic school is a bit competitive. The classmates who belong to such and such families all know what class they belong to.
No one would be stupid enough to believe that we are classmates of the same student, and that we are united, friendly, supportive, and equal.
The class divide has left a precise mark on everyone's heart.
Professor Cruz only stays above your head for a short while, and then floats away as soon as the semester is over.
There is a ninety-nine percent chance that it will be the next time we meet on the road of art.
Mrs. Cruz and Ms. Sakai stand dazzlingly on the stage of the art museum, and you are just an unknown onlooker under the stage in front of the TV news.
You will definitely remember the other person's name, but the other person will definitely not remember your name.
At most, they pointed to the broadcast footage in front of the TV and boasted to their family and friends, "She's so beautiful. I was her classmate for half a year."
Except for a few people who are selected into the advanced class, they may be able to get a letter of recommendation from Mrs. Sakai.
This is the fate of most people and this mother and daughter in their lives.
Classes are different. How can an artistic princess be friends with a country boy like you?
It wasn't until they saw the poster, Gu Weijing, who was also a little transparent in the grade, and the textbook that they saw the fairy tale jointly signed by Mr. Cao Xuan.
How to describe it?
The Seven Fairies came down to earth to marry the cowherd boy Dong Yong, and the old fairy Zhang Guolao sat on the little donkey in the mill at the entrance of the village.
The main theme is a myth.
they know,
From today to many years from now.
This senior Gu Weijing will probably become a new legend in the school and will be passed down word of mouth from generation to generation of Dulwich students.
(End of chapter)
