Van Gogh Reborn!

Chapter 252:

252

Playground (4)

“You must be lonely.”

“Who says I’m lonely?”

Henri Matisse denied it, but Ko Hun was sure.

Art was inevitably lonely.

He had to carve his own path in a way that had no definite answer.

He had to constantly look back at the road he had created himself, reflect on himself, and move forward.

He had to find the problem and the solution by himself.

That’s why he was so glad to meet someone who understood him a little bit.

“It won’t get better just by being together, but sometimes you miss it, don’t you? Then, let go of your burden for a moment and lean on each other.”

Because of his experience with Paul Gauguin, Ko Hun didn’t hope for an ideal community from the start.

He didn’t want to interfere too much with each other.

He just wanted a relationship that could comfort him.

“I don’t need that.”

“Don’t say that.”

Blanche, who had been listening to Ko Hun and Henri Matisse’s conversation with suspicion, intervened.

“I’ll just leave.”

“Why?”

Ko Hun asked in surprise.

Blanche Fabre looked at Ko Hun and Henri Matisse alternately and made up her mind.

“Are you two, by any chance.”

“By any chance?”

“Tell me in advance if you have a special relationship. I don’t want to act clueless.”

“Cough.”

Bang Tae-ho, who was drinking juice, choked.

While Ko Hun was speechless with astonishment, Henri Matisse shouted.

"What nonsense are you talking about since earlier!"1)

“No?”

“No?”

Henri Matisse glared at Blanche as he repeated her words, but Blanche couldn’t erase her doubt as she listened to their conversation.

You like him.

You’re lonely.

Let’s lean on each other.

These were not the words to say in a normal relationship, so she wondered if she was getting in the way of their relationship.

“Why are you just standing there!”

Henri Matisse nagged Ko Hun.

Ko Hun, who was speechless with absurdity, shook his head.

“Matisse is special to me, but not in the way you think.”

“Cut the crap!”

[The Art Museum that Came to Life]

Ko Hun completed another work in Montmartre, the street of artists.

The work, which was participated by his grandfather Koh Soo-yeol, his colleague Henri Matisse, Blanche Fabre, and Banksy, was a sunflower that filled the hillside of Dalida Square, with no title.

After finishing his work, Ko Hun told Le Figaro, “I wanted to create a happy and warm place for Montmartre, where people of various races live together.”

As he said, during the ten days of work, French, black, Muslim, and Asian people spent time together in Dalida Square.

The Montmartre district office presented Ko Hun with a plaque of appreciation.

[Modern Version of Hansel and Gretel]

The painter Ko Hun drew sunflowers in Dalida Square and gave chocolate, candy, and pie to the children, which became a hot topic.

A netizen, who was presumed to be a resident of Montmartre, thanked Ko Hun for allowing the children who couldn’t eat breakfast to eat and play.

As this fact became known, some companies held donation events and expressed their intention to continue to support Ko Hun even after he finished his work.

On the other hand, art critic Tanaka Hirobumi claimed that Ko Hun bribed the children to attract attention, causing controversy.

He consoled Henri Matisse.

He cleared up Blanche Fabre’s misunderstanding the next day.

Ko Hun, who hadn’t found a name he liked yet, browsed the internet news articles and found an article related to Tanaka Hirobumi.

“Tsk.”

His grandfather, who wondered what he was looking at in the newspaper, checked Tanaka Hirobumi’s nonsense and clicked his tongue.

“You don’t need to see that.”

“I was curious.”

Ko Hun lifted his head.

“He still seems interested in me.”

Ko Hun had thought that Danaka Hirobumi, who had visited his first solo exhibition, would never come back.

“He’s just trying to boost his own reputation. You can ignore those guys. There’s no need to get hurt by them.”

“I’m not hurt. I was just amazed that he kept talking about me.”

Kosuyul was worried about his young grandson.

He would have been upset if he was criticized without any evidence, but he couldn’t accept it when he said he was fine.

“What kind of paintings do Japanese artists make?”

“Hmm. It’s hard to generalize a whole country.”

Ko Hun nodded at his grandfather’s words, who was a master of Korean painting but claimed he didn’t know anything about it.

“Grandpa, you liked Yoshitomo’s work.”

“Yoshitomo?”

“Hara Yoshitomo. It warms my heart.”1

Ko Hun wrote down the name his grandfather recommended and looked for the article written by Danaka Hirobumi.

He brazenly said that he had involved children in his artistic activities without paying them a fair compensation and instead gave them chocolate or snacks.

Some people agreed with his words and some others argued against him, saying that Ko Hun had volunteered and they shouldn’t curse him.

Especially, the art historian Caroline Strick said that Ko Hun was an artist who brought happiness to people with art and dessert, and had a debate with Danaka Hirobumi.

“Ah.”

Ko Hun lifted his head.

“I decided.”

“What?”

“My name.”

Kosuyul raised his eyebrows and showed interest.

“Chocolatier.”

“Huh?”

Since Danaka Hirobumi had used the word as a mockery, Kosuyul couldn’t understand what his grandson’s intention was to choose Chocolatier as his name.

“That’s what Danaka said.”

“But you can think of it in a good way. It means someone who makes happy art like chocolate.”

Ko Hun showed his grandfather the article that Caroline Strick had posted on her personal blog.

[A Bittersweet Artist, Ko Hun]

Ko Hun, who had successfully finished the Art Nouveau contest, became a hot topic again at Dallida Square recently.

The news that he gathered marginalized children and drew pictures with them while sharing snacks was well-known through various media.

As I had been interested in him, I visited the scene and saw the dazzling sunflowers and bees that filled the uphill road and the chocolate in their hands. I couldn’t help but recall his first invitation exhibition ‘Sweet Happiness’.

Ko Hun, who had already presented several works, was gradually building his own domain.

He also showed longing and strong will in works like and , but Ko Hun’s artistic world was based on happiness.

In ‘Sweet Happiness’, he recalled his memories by drawing snacks and formed a rapport between parents and children.

This time, he shared his drawings and snacks on the street, out of the museum.

He regarded them as a means to improve his relationship with others, and reminded me of Fernando Gonzalez, who left and .

I don’t know how much more influence Ko Hun will have in the future, but I hope that his most personal artistic act will lead to interaction with others.

“Hmm.”

Kosuyul put down the tablet and Ko Hun smiled and said.

“If this makes people happy, I have nothing more to ask for.”

Ko Hun really thought so.

Having a healthy body was not the only reason he could overcome his painful past.

It was possible because he had his parents and grandfather’s love.

Everyone walked their own paths and no one could help them, but he could regain his strength just by having someone by his side.

He hoped that the paintings he completed through the process of overcoming the tragedy and despair that came to him would comfort those who were going through similar difficulties.

He hoped they would have the courage to stand up again.

Like chocolate that makes you feel better when you’re depressed.

At the second meeting with the Bugrenelli shopping mall, Giovanna Piaf, the team leader, showed him an unexpected document.

“This is about the preventive measures you mentioned last time.”

He had asked for a way to prevent racial discrimination incidents and a post-measure when they first met, but he didn’t expect them to prepare it so soon.

“We plan to conduct education once a month for the stores that have entered, and if a related problem occurs in the store, we will terminate the contract and demand monetary compensation.”

It wasn’t a special method, but it was the best they could do from Bugrenelli’s side.

“If by any chance this causes damage to the writer, we will pay you three times the compensation.”

Bang Taeho nodded for now.

“Please make it clear what criteria you will use to determine the damage. I don’t think it will happen, but without a standard, it could become a liability clause.”

“Would you be satisfied if we change it to ‘when the hate crime is proven to be true’?”

“Yes. That’s enough.”

I’m glad that Bang Tae-ho took care of the details of the contract.

“Also.”

Giovanna Piaf, the team leader, received the documents from the employee who came with her.

“You wanted a continuous exchange, but I’m sure you know that neither you nor Mr. Bang can keep working on the interior design.”

“Yes.”

“How about a three-year contract with one time per year? The work period and compensation are the same as before.”

Bang Tae-ho clenched his fist.

He seemed to be hesitating, but he probably had in mind that my value would increase.

He was calculating whether it was necessary to set the current standard when he could sign a better contract in three years.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“Of course. Do you want us to move?”

“That’s okay.”

It’s convenient that they can’t understand Korean.

“What do you think?”

Bang Tae-ho asked for my opinion.

“I’m happy with how it’s going.”

“I’m glad too, but the truth is, it’s unreasonable to do the same amount for three years. There’s a movie coming out the year after next. And I’ll have an exhibition in between.”

One million euros is enough to satisfy me compared to other painters.

But Bang Tae-ho was confident that the sequel to would be a hit, and that my exhibition would be a success.

He thought I should be more greedy.

“I’ll leave it to you, sir.”

This kind of thing will happen often.

I want to trust and leave it to Bang Tae-ho, as long as my intention to receive a fair compensation and continue the event is reflected.

“Okay.”

Bang Tae-ho looked at Giovanna Piaf.

“Excuse me.”

“Go ahead.”

"Go-hoon, the writer, will do more work in the future. He will be able to join the Grand Art Tour next year, and the sequel to The Fortress will be released the year after that."3)

Giovanna Piaf’s face showed no sign of wavering.

She was already expecting it.

“I agree that there is a high possibility that it will happen as you said. However, we can’t apply something that hasn’t happened to the compensation.”

Giovanna Piaf was right.

Possibility is just a possibility, and it doesn’t make sense to pay more money now for something that might not happen in the future.

“What if Go-hoon exhibits his work at all four major exhibitions next year?”

The Grand Art Tour is Art Basel, Venice Biennale, Kassel Documenta, and Münster Sculpture Project.

I don’t know about the others, but I don’t do sculptures.

I don’t know what Bang Tae-ho is thinking.

“Then I think he deserves to receive 1.5 million euros.”

Giovanna Piaf thought for a moment and opened her mouth.

“How about the condition that he wins at all four exhibitions?”

As they looked at each other silently.

Bang Tae-ho smiled broadly.

“Fine.”

I wonder if it’s okay to make such a condition when I don’t even know what kind of event the Münster Sculpture Project is.

I’m satisfied with a contract of 3 million euros for three times, but Bang Tae-ho seems to have something he believes in.

“Then here.”

“Yes.”

When Bang Tae-ho wrote Chocolatier on the contract, Piaf’s eyes widened.

Vincent van Gogh was misunderstood because of his relationship with Paul Gauguin.

The motif is Yoshitomo Nara.

Grand Art Tour.

An opportunity to see the four major European exhibitions in the same year every 10 years.

The most recent one was in 2017.

In the world of , it is held in 2010, 2020, and 2030.