"Detective Cat? It should be the illustrator who was quite famous on the Internet a while ago. He is quite popular."
Sir Brown said very casually.
He still had some impressions of this name in his mind.
Among the charges he laid out for Anna, two of the most important ones were that she secretly participated in art appreciation columns outside the magazine without the approval of the magazine's senior management, and behaved inappropriately in the Thomas video.
And director Irina made an unprecedented move to promote an internet illustrator with no foundation to a two-and-a-half-star artist without submitting any evidence that was "conclusively convincing" in the eyes of the management.
Sir Brown believes that these two incidents have had a negative impact on the value of Oil Painting magazine in the minds of collectors.
The editorial of "The Moon" and the joint protest letter written by Van Dorn to the oil painting management are evidence of Anna's crime.
And they are all related to this detective cat.
"Is she famous? Sorry, why have I never heard of this guy? Which gallery is she an artist represented by?"
A shareholder who is an academician of the French Academy wiped the glasses in his hand with a piece of cloth, shook his head and said: "Detective Cat, what a strange name."
This shareholder and Wehrlein have similar living habits.
Daily entertainment is horse riding, spiritual practice, rowing on the Rhine and listening to opera, with almost no contact with the Internet.
So I don’t have much idea about popular YouTube videos.
The proposal to remove Anna from her seat on the board barely passed and went to a vote.
Most shareholders didn't pay attention or care about the name of the little illustrator who was mentioned several times in the meeting materials.
"You may have misunderstood. As far as I know, she does not belong to any gallery. She is an online illustrator - the kind of painter who takes orders to paint for others online. The popularity I am referring to is also on Twitter degree of discussion.”
Sir Brown explained: "I don't know if you know...the so-called internet celebrity painter."
“So he’s an Internet celebrity?”
Mr. Academician snorted.
"Is it wrong that you asked so many of us experts and scholars to spend precious energy discussing the works of an internet celebrity painter? Is everyone's time so worthless!"
The old gentleman was a little dissatisfied.
The overall impression of foreign Internet celebrities on the Internet is not very positive.
The traditional social elite regards them more as electronic clowns.
Internet celebrity illustrators and so on, maybe five or six people are praised on the Internet.
For serious connoisseurs of high-end French academicians, even mentioning these messy online names of "detective cats, dogs," would make them feel inferior!
It comes down to it.
The academic masters and the small painters who started on the street cannot urinate in the same pot in terms of their historical origins.
Let painters like KAWS, who have a not very serious artistic background, come over.
Your Excellency, the academician, may have to make some sarcastic remarks.
Not to mention a detective cat.
In his opinion, this issue is a waste of time.
It was as if the experts who were responsible for identifying famous purebred Arabian horses were asked to use a magnifying glass to study whether the hooves of a small mottled donkey were healthy.
Every minute they spend discussing this issue is worth more than all the paintings this guy paints in his lifetime combined.
"I have no choice. Who told this to be an issue raised by Elena's shareholders? We can only follow the rules." Sir Brown waved his hand helplessly.
"Oh, please, when will the buyer's column of our "Oil Painting" column also recommend an internet celebrity painter to collectors. The recommendation index is two and a half stars. Who reviewed and approved this proposal? This guy is completely committing a crime. "
The French academician curled his lips.
"Apart from Ms. Elena, who else can be so willful? Some shareholders may not know yet. Dear Miss Anna not only gave a two-and-a-half-star rating. She also posted videos viewed by hundreds of millions of people on YouTube , believes that the artistic skills of this detective cat are comparable to those of Andersen Award winner Mr. Jane Arnold."
Chairman Brown pretended to be unable to understand Anna and kept shaking his head.
Poof!
This time Mr. Academician was completely unstoppable and burst out laughing.
"Where are these things? Ms. Elena, you don't happen to have a large number of this guy's works in your hands, or have this internet celebrity painter signed under your own name?"
The academician told a cold joke.
"Little girl, let me teach you to be a good boy. Even if you want to speculate on paintings, you can't just pick up a cat or a dog on the Internet. It's so unscrupulous, right?"
After the shareholder said this, he stroked a small goatee on his chin and laughed in a self-conscious way.
There was a burst of laughter from many shareholders around him.
There was a happy atmosphere in the conference room.
Of course everyone knows that what the academician said is bullshit.
If the heirs of the Elena family want to make money from the art business. She had a million better options than doing something so wrong.
only……
They couldn't figure out why Anna had to do this.
Perhaps, as Sir Brown said, it was a young woman's capriciousness at the whim.
Now that the atmosphere has been set off here.
It was their fault that they had not taken the initiative to attack Anna just now, but now the girl took the initiative to bring her smooth face in front of her and let them slap her.
Whether it's genuine or fake.
Not by the way, laugh at Anna to show the unity of everyone's position, and step on this detective cat that no one cares about, showing loyalty to the incoming major shareholder, Kruger Brothers Bank.
It really doesn’t make sense.
He is just a cheap illustrator on the street, how much artistic accomplishment can he have?
Say one thousand, say ten thousand, even if that guy has some unprecedented talents.
Now being collectively denied and ridiculed by art giants like them, it is destined to become worthless in the hearts of big collectors.
If you want to blame it, just blame yourself for being put in trouble by Ms. Elena.
Destroying this poor detective cat was just a side step in overthrowing the old imprint of the Elena family.
Just like the two-way foil that destroyed the solar system in "Three-Body" conveniently destroyed a particle of cosmic dust in the asteroid belt.
Destroying you has nothing to do with you.
To be discussed and ridiculed by so many big shots, ordinary two- and three-star painters are not qualified!
Only two or three shareholders did not laugh.
They are all people who have watched Detective Cat’s work on YouTube.
Everyone has a steelyard in their heart.
Although the screenshots in the online video are far less clear than holding them in your hands, you can appreciate them clearly.
But even if it's just a rough idea.
These senior art experts also understand the effort required to create sketches with such rigorous structure and smooth muscle lines.
Anna's rating can only be said to be tactless, but it's really not too much.
"Having not seen the work with your own eyes, you make arrogant comments about a work of art based on the stereotypes in your mind, belittling the painstaking efforts of a painter to nothing. Such behavior is both arrogant and disrespectful."
At the conference table, Anna straightened her waist and did not give in at all.
At this shareholders' meeting, it was the first time that she had such a strong response to the art seniors present.
"The purifier will purge himself. We are all experienced art critics. Why don't we bring up the pictures of Ms. Detective Cat's paintings and make a judgment on the spot. I gave this woman a two-and-a-half-star rating to see if there are any. Partiality.”
"Ms. Elena, I don't know what your intentions are in arguing about this issue - whether an online artist who draws ten-dollar illustrations has the artistic level of master Jane Arnold? You don’t need a professional art critic to ask the question, any ordinary person with a brain will know the correct answer.”
Sir Brown knocked on the table: "And the rating you gave the other party is not in line with the magazine's practice."
"History has never seen a pure Internet artist win such an honor. The management discovered this problem during a routine review. Therefore, it is also logical to cancel Detective Cat's recommended webpage."
"I originally wanted to save some face for you out of respect for your aunt. But Miss Elena, you insist on putting your malfeasance at the shareholders' meeting to discuss, and I have no choice. I just hope that you will Now don’t waste everyone’s time unreasonably.”
Sir Brown did not want to drag this matter into the field of "judging the artistic level of the detective cat" that made him feel a little guilty.
Is $10 worth $1 million?
What a joke.
Let’s be honest in private – even if it’s really comparable, you can’t say it in public!
Anyway, there are only a few collectors who are really knowledgeable.
Such a clear statement will shake the entire foundation of the price gradient in the art market and make collectors doubt whether it is really wise to spend large sums of money to buy paintings by masters.
"Those older shareholders are tired, let's start voting now and end this shareholder meeting."
Now it would be the most straightforward way to beat Anna and Detective Cat to death directly on the grounds of not complying with the regulations.
"There is no need to vote by show of hands. I happened to get a sample book from a friend of the new version of "The Little Prince" that Scholastic Publishing Group will soon launch. The illustrator of this set of fairy tales is none other than the Internet artist Detective Cat who you laugh at and disdain. .”
Anna took Osborne out of her handbag and sent him a gift.
Pushed to the French academician across the table.
"Please look at this painting, then look me directly in the eyes, and tell me clearly that this kind of excellent painter does not deserve a two-and-a-half-star rating. I did something wrong in this matter, and I will do it again in the future. Related issues will not be raised."
"The source of your confidence is actually a set of fairy tale book illustrations? It's not even a serious piece of art!"
The French academician's eyes revealed a sneer.
He took the book nonchalantly.
"Okay. I hope this boring issue can end soon. If Ms. Elena, you really like the feeling of being rejected in person, I don't mind doing what you want at all..."
The academician's eyes glanced at the cover of the fairy tale book, and his tone suddenly paused.
This painting...
He grabbed his beard fiercely, as if he had been hit by a restraining spell and suddenly couldn't breathe. His nose was twitching.
The French academician's strange behavior only lasted for a short time, but it still attracted the attention of other shareholders around him.
Many people nearby turned their heads to see what the work in the academician's hand was.
Then there was a series of gasping sounds.
Sir Brown was sitting slightly away from the academician.
The chairman felt uneasy for no reason.
He knew that Detective Cat's sketch was indeed good enough.
Could it be that she had made another outstanding sketch?
Logically speaking,
The rigorous anatomical sketches that the other party is good at do not go well with the temperament of fairy tale books.
And these people around me have all seen the big market.
Even the actual works of ordinary sketch masters are not worthy of everyone's surprise.
Sir Brown's face could still maintain a calm and unconcerned look at first.
After a few seconds, he heard a collective gasp in the conference room. Instead of stopping, it intensified.
It seemed like everyone was devouring a burrito with too many deviled peppers.
So the chairman couldn't keep the calmness on his face.
He finally stretched his neck and frowned at the books held in the academician's hands.
Wow!
When he saw the illustration cover of "The Little Prince", the chairman's first reaction was that this painting is amazing.
The hazy and dreamy quality of paint and the sense of communication between pen and ink.
Even though it was a photo print, the silver-haired Sir's whole body was trembling.
Masterpiece - the printing on the surface of the book still has such a powerful expressive power. The original work is a bit beyond the normal level.
His second reaction after coming to his senses was anger.
Oh shit,
These old academics, now is the time to study whether their painting is good or not!
What matters at this time is stance.
Do you understand your position?
Regardless of whether her painting is good or bad, now it can only be said that her painting is not good.
Sir Brown took out the copy of "The Little Prince" and placed it on the table.
"It turned out to be knife painting. Well, it is indeed a very rare painting method. No wonder it makes everyone a little surprised. Unfortunately, Ms. Elena, you confuse rare with excellence."
"We all know that painting with an oil painting knife has great limitations, and there are many scammers in this field. This painting looks a bit deceiving at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it is full of shortcomings."
"So, let me answer this question for you. You are wrong when you give a two-and-a-half-star rating to such a fake painter."
"I think everyone here can agree on that."
Sir Brown kicked the fat old man next to him under the table.
At this time, more people need to step up and lead the team, so that the shareholders who were shocked by this picture can clear their minds.
Al-Khelaifi took the fairy tale book in his hand with a complicated expression.
He opened his mouth several times, wanting to express some harsh sarcasm about the painting, but found that he could not find fault with it for a moment.
"Hey, I know everything about drawing with a knife and painting."
The fat old man choked for a long time and only said this specious sentence: "I agree with Sir Brown. Miss Elena, you are wrong."
Al-Khelaifi pushed the book in his hand back to Anna.
"This picture does look bluffing, but after all, we old men have more experience than you, a little girl, and we can't be wrong."
He faced Anna.
The underlying meaning in the tone is a vague reminder to the shareholders around him.
In this situation, they must not give any other opinions.
These respected seniors have just united to drive Anna out of the magazine.
The decision has not yet been made.
They collectively changed their attitude 180 degrees and admitted that they had made a mistake in their treatment of Anna.
The judgment and vision of the entire management are not as good as that of a little girl.
It's so embarrassing that it doesn't matter.
But how do collectors around the world view the credibility of Oil Painting magazine, and how can they believe in the market potential of Oil Painting Funds.
Now they would rather ignore their conscience, and they cannot take a step back.
Just an internet painter and a fairy tale illustration.
It can't change the world.
——
The wind blew up the cotton lint dropped from the poplar trees on the street.
The traffic on the road slowly stopped.
Gleze is a city with a very slow pace of life, and the air in the afternoon is filled with a lazy atmosphere.
The sun casts misty light and shadow in the ancient city, and the black asphalt road leads from the city center to the distant hills.
There are old-fashioned traffic lights with decades of history. The long flashing yellow light between green and red lights has a sense of anxiety that can make impatient people breathless.
Fortunately, the residents here have long adapted to this rhythm of life.
They crossed the road slowly.
There was only a pair of foreign tourists who had just visited the New Art Center, standing in front of the crosswalk, impatiently scrolling through TIKTOK.
The man turned his head and glanced at the traffic light, which still had not changed.
He suddenly seemed to be surprised when he saw something, patted the shoulder of his girlfriend next to him, and immediately raised his phone.
He pointed at the dark-colored Mercedes GLS600 SUV with a very rare license plate parked at the front of the zebra crossing.
Austria, like many European countries, supports paid customization of license plates.
The format is state name + letters or numbers.
The G at the beginning of the license plate of this Mercedes-Benz SUV is the abbreviation of the state of Graz. More than 95% of the cars running on the streets here have G openings.
But the numbers that follow are remarkable.
[G·01]——This represents the No. 1 car in the entire state.
Inside and outside, no matter how rich you are, some license plate numbers cannot be touched by ordinary people.
In European countries, Arabic numerals within 10 are generally used by the royal family or top politicians. Seeing these license plates means meeting a super powerful person.
For example, the assets of the Dutch royal family include license plate numbers 01 to 06.
The No. 1 car [W·01] in Vienna, the capital of Austria, does not belong to any individual. It is the royal car of every president.
"No way! Honey, look at the license plate of that car. Are we traveling with the governor? Hurry up and send a tweet..."
"The governor takes a GLS600? The starting configuration of this kind of luxury car is 200,000 euros. This is how the city government spends taxpayers' money! If we are there, they can only take a Toyota Crown."
The girl next to me tweeted enviously, while condemning the officials’ extravagance with a sense of justice.
Before the tweets here were finished, new changes occurred on the road ahead.
As soon as the traffic light changed from red to green and the black Mercedes-Benz released its brakes, a backpacker in a T-shirt took two quick steps.
"Bang!" sound.
Without hesitation, the backpacker slammed his head into the front hood of the Mercedes-Benz.
The couple who were about to cross the road were dumbfounded.
"Pengci touched the governor's head. This is really daring... It's worthy of admiration."
"Sir, are you okay? Do you need me to call an ambulance for you?"
It was not a guard who got out of the passenger seat, but a young girl wearing a gray professional skirt.
"Damn it! What the hell is going on today."
Elliot looked at the backpacker lying in front of the Mercedes-Benz like a toad and couldn't help but murmur in his heart.
This SUV with the license plate number G·01 is not the governor's official car as foreign tourists thought, but Anna's car.
In order to thank the Jelena family for their long-term contribution to the city's fiscal revenue, employment and city image.
The city government gave the No. 1 local number plate to the Ileana family.
In addition to this [G·01], Anna also owns a Rolls-Royce Ghost with a special license plate [G·lgemlde (oil painting)], which is customized and bulletproof.
That was the car my aunt used before she died.
Anna prefers to use this full-size Mercedes-Benz SUV because it has more space and can be modified to be barrier-free. The travel top box on the roof can automatically store an electric wheelchair.
"Hello, sir."
The female secretary was tired of seeing her suffer all day at the shareholders' meeting.
Now that she had encountered such a bad thing again, her remaining patience was almost exhausted.
Elliot resisted the urge to kick the guy in front of him in the stomach.
She frowned and said: "I advise you not to plan to stay on the ground without getting up. We would rather go to court than pay a single euro for your immoral behavior."
"Sorry, sorry, it's my problem."
The backpacker didn't deceive anyone, but he didn't get up immediately. Instead, he took out his press card and voice recorder.
"I am a special investigative reporter for The Economic Evaluator. I would like to ask Ms. Elena to spare her precious time to answer my question."
Elliot was silent for two seconds, and then laughed in anger.
In European society, in addition to the traditional separation of powers, journalists, as the fourth power that checks and balances public opinion, have always been called the all-pervasive "uncrowned king" in society.
They are a cross between fearless heroes and sleazy paparazzi.
Reporters can wear light body armor and run wildly in war zones where bullets are flying for a news report, compete with the FBI and CIA, and they can also do something as shameless as digging through condoms in celebrities' trash cans.
As for how to get the precious opportunity to interview big figures.
Generations of journalist friends have summarized the two lines: civil and military.
Milder approaches include deliberately not showering for days, dressing up like a homeless person, squatting in the parking lot of a luxury hotel like the Hilton, and waiting for the interviewee's car to drive up to him with a "I've been waiting all day and night" look. , just to get the opportunity to interview a big shot like you" to earn sympathy points.
You can also take a tough approach like that old man in the airport terminal taking photos of Van Dorn and threatening the interview.
But this was the first time Secretary Elliot had seen the reckless man who blocked the traffic at the zebra crossing.
"I'm sorry, I don't want to do this either. But the Elena Manor rejected all reporters' requests for interviews. I really had no choice, so I decided to take this step. Please, just let me ask a few questions."
The reporter clasped his hands together and begged pitifully.
Elliot didn't bother to pay attention to the other party.
She opened her phone and looked through her address book, preparing to contact lawyers and familiar contacts in the Gleze Police Department.
Surveillance camera coverage in Europe is not high, but Miss Anna’s car must have a driving recorder.
The worst case scenario is going to court.
The secretary's phone number has been dialed.
She glanced at the melon-eating people holding mobile phones that had begun to gather around the roadside.
Elliot hesitated for a moment and hung up the phone again.
She walked back to the window of the car that had pulled over on the side of the road.
"What's wrong? I saw someone bumped into me. Is he injured?"
Ana lowered the car window and asked casually.
"It was a reporter who bumped into me."
Elliot quickly recounted what had happened.
Ever since the rumors of infighting among the management of "Oil Painting" began, there has been a wave of interview requests from various media and investigative reporters popping up from the ground like groundhogs outside the manor.
Miss Irina had her secretary refuse everything in the past.
Unexpectedly, on the way back from the shareholders' meeting, I bumped into another person.
"Let him go...wait."
Elena suddenly realized that this might be a good opportunity to build momentum for Detective Cat before "The Little Prince" is released.
"That's it. Do you know which publication you are a reporter for?"
Ana thought for a few seconds and asked.
(End of chapter)
