Van Gogh Reborn! - Chapter 32
Henry Marceau seemed to be a man who was proud of himself.
He’s a perfectionist similar to Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
The perfect depiction of muscles, the texture of skin and clothes, and even the hair that looks like it will be blown away in the wind at any moment.
Each and every part of the human body is delicately expressed in an ideal shape.
It’s like looking into Medusa’s eyes.
When the curse is lifted, it seemed like it will come back to life again at any moment.
I dare to assert that the statue is a work that proves how far human technology can advance.
It looks like a Jewel.
As the subtle golden marble shines under the light, it seems as if it is not an object of this world.
‘Marceau’s Jewel.’
Henry Marceau is the model of that marble statue and the one who sculpted it.
His narcissism is projected into reality through this sculpture.
The only thing that bothers me is why is he sitting along with his work.
“Performance art?”
Kim Jiwoo said while tilting his head.
“What is performance art?”
“It’s one of the avant-garde branches. To get away from inflexibility, the artist himself participates in his work.”
Avant-Garde — A word referring to the front row of the military seems to be used these days to refer to the art of pursuing new things.
“Even after creating such a perfect piece of work, he still couldn’t acknowledge it?”
People glanced around [Marceau’s jewel] and started murmuring.
“Now his actions are like the soul of an artist who cannot be satisfied. Even after creating an ideal marble statue. It should be seen in that sense that he is sitting in front of the self-awareness statue.”
Some thought it as a plausible interpretation and nodded, but Henry Marceau was the first to open his mouth.
“Shut up.”
He looked very displeased.
It looked as if he was fighting with [Marceau’s jewel].
Confused by Henry Marceau’s remarks, people turned around and left.
Going further inside with my grandpa, I could see Henry Marceau’s painting.
Nine self-portraits were hung in an exhibition room.
The one that catches my eye the most is the long sideways drawing with only the eyes and the forehead.
Clear emerald eyes of Henry Marceau was painted.
The painting that expresses himself looking in the mirror was titled as [Henry Marceau 766].
“What does this number mean?”
“It means it is his 766th self-portrait.”
Kim Jiwoo replied.
“Huh..?”
When I checked the title of the picture right next to it, it says [Henry Marceau 765).
“A lot of people think of Henry Marceau as a genius who fell from the sky, but he’s not. He’s an incredibly prolific person.”
“……”
I also have drawn a lot of self-portraits, but not to this extent.
I think I can see why he is considered as an outstanding artist.
At first, I thought he was a narcissist because of his personality, words, and actions, but can we really call all the 766 self-portraits simply as an expression of strong narcissism?
I met the eyes of Henry Marceau in the painting looking at me.
A person looking at the painting can see Henry Marceau’s eyes looking at him, but Henry Marceau in the painting does not look at the viewer.
Several interpretations are possible.
He may want to show his independent attitude, which doesn’t care about the critics or the public.
Or, he don’t want pay any attention to the critics who look at him through the public’s gaze.
It may be an attempt to criticize them.
The purity of wanting to know oneself was reflected as it is.
The passion of this man can not be easily understood.
I think I can now understand why so many people love him.
Looking at his self-portrait full of narcissism, his dignified attitude is both surprising and funny.
And, I am jealous too.
I wonder how many people are there, who are so confident in themselves.
Not simply intoxicated with his looks and financial prowess.
He never stopped his journey to discover who he was while painting 766 self-portraits.
How long must he have been thinking on how to draw these mysteriously shining emerald eyes?
I also wonder how many brushstrokes he had applied.
How painful it must have been.
I was like that, too.
He is training his precarious self by painting.
“Hun, isn’t that your painting?”
When I turned my head at Kim Jiwoo’s words, there is the [Guest] painting exhibited in the next room.
It is located in the front of the entrance and in the middle of the exhibition room, so anyone can see it at a glance.
“Yes, it is.”
People who had seen Henry Marceau’s self-portraits gradually moved to the next room and began to look at my paintings.
“Oh!”
As soon as I moved into the room with them, I heard exclamation.
“Oh My God.”
A fat middle-aged man with a nice mustache looked at the [Guest].
“Richard Phillips. He’s the one who offered to buy your painting even before seeing with one million euros.”
Kim Jiwoo whispered in my ear.
It is very difficult to understand the mindset of the rich who spend so much money on a painting they have never seen before.
I was curious to see how he looked at [Guest], so I looked at him and our eyes met.
He smiled softly.
“I didn’t know we were this close.”
Richard Phillips came over and held out his hand.
Contrary to his appearance, he had a hard and rough hands.
“I’m Ko Hun.”
“It’s Richard Phillips.”
He turned his head and greeted my grandpa as if he already knew him.
“Why didn’t you brag once that you had a grandson like this?”
“hahahah. Ricard, it’s a long story.”
Grandpa and Richard Phillips shook hands quite friendly.
They seem to know each other
“I am really amazed. How did you come up with this idea? The yellow sunflowers are just like Van Gogh’s warm gaze.”
He understood my intentions in such a short time.
I wanted to convey the meaning of the picture as easily and as clearly as possible, and it seemed to have worked well.
“Maybe you have a desire to become a painter like Van Gogh, don’t you?”
I shook my head at Richard Phillips’ question.
I have no desire to commit suicide without being able to paint because of an illness and not being recognized by anyone.
“Really? I thought you liked him.”
“I don’t want to commit suicide.”
Richard Phillips eyes opened wide.
I thought his eyes were small, but it seems, they were buried in the flesh.
I was a little surprised that he opened his eyes so big as if they were going to pop out at any moment.
“Hahahaha… No. I didn’t mean that, I meant whether you want to become a great painter like him.”
I was perplexed by the words that complimented me.
“Hahahah. This guy is particularly a great fan of Van Gogh.”
“Really?”
Richard Phillips took turns looking at me and [Guest].
“The sunflower and this work definitely feel like Van Gogh’s work.”
“It’s much better.”
“My my. Look at the confidence of the little guy. He compares his work with Vincent van Gogh’s. That’s the spirit young boy.”
Well…… both of them are my drawings.
I cherish the past, but I don’t want to repeat that miserable life.
Based on that, I want to find a better me.
“Young Hun, would you stay here for a moment? I want to talk to your Grandpa for a moment.”
“Okay.”
Grandpa went and talked with Richard Phillips as he walked into a sparsely populated area.
Suddenly I felt like the people in the room is increasing rapidly.
It was a fairly large exhibition room, but the front of [Guest] was completely filled with no space to step.
Inevitably I went a little far away from the people looking at my painting.
It looks like they like it
The sighs and admiration of those which I hear from time to time made my heart race.
“How are you feeling now?”
Kim Jiwoo asked an obvious question.
“l am happy.”
It’s fun to read the comments posted on the Internet articles, but it’s still not as good as seeing them in person.
I can see even the smallest facial expression change.
“Don’t do that, I want a more detailed comment.”
“It’s the first time I’m experiencing this. I’m so happy that there are people who are listening to me through my paintings. I love those people and their changing facial expressions.They are feeling the emotion that I received at the Van Gogh Museum. It’s so much exciting.”
While Kim Ji-woo was diligently writing down my words, a woman approached me.
“Do you like it?”
A charming woman with a dark brown hair and blue eyes introduced herself.
“I’m Michelle Platini. I hung it here so that as many people as possible will be able to see it. I also paid attention to the lighting.”
“Thank you.”
“No. I should be the one thanking you. Thanks for giving us such a nice picture.”
She shook my hands with joy.
“I’m from a Korean Magazine. Can you explain the intention of the Artist Henry Marceau?”
Kim Jiwoo suddenly interrupted and asked a question to Michelle Platini in a unique English accent.
It’s subtle, but Michelle Platini bit her lips in an irritated way.
“There is no intentions. He’s doing it because he can’t finish it.”
Kim Jiwoo blinked his eyes in surprise.
“Is that statue not finished yet?”
As much as Kim Jiwoo, I was also surprised.
I can’t believe that the marble statue, which seems to be moving at any moment, hasn’t been completed yet.
“As you can see, he couldn’t find any jewels to put on eyes’ part. He has been doing this for several days now. Yesterday, too, he told to postpone the exhibition, so I opted to exhibit in this fashion.”
“…can I publish this article as it is?”
“Do as you like.”
⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩
I moved to the first room of the exhibition Hall.
Henry Marceau is still glaring at the [Marceau’s jewel], just like before.
I tried to get closer.
But the security staff stopped me.
“You can’t go in.”
“It’s okay.”
Turning around, Michelle Platini nodded, looking at the security agent.
I went inside and looked at Henry Marceau’s workbench.
There was a glass box full of jewels.
I don’t know how much it costs, but it’s hard to choose among so many gems.
I don’t know what drives him like this.
He has an obsessive-compulsive disorder which wants the [Marceau’s jewel], which he is modeled on, must be perfect, and the person who makes it must also be perfect.
It seems that no matter what precious jewels in the world he brought, it would not be able to satisfy him.
“Are you looking for jewels?”
“Go away.”
Henry Marceau said grimly, fixing his gaze on [Marceau’s jewel].
“You will never find it that way.”
“……..Shut up.”
The Henry Marceau I knew, would have gotten angry as soon as he heard my words, but the one now is calm.
He hasn’t slept for days, and has been thinking continuously about [Marceau’s Jewel], and he doesn’t have the strength to get angry.
“What are you hesitating about?”
Henry Marceau finally turned his head towards me.
“what?”
I pointed at him with my finger.
“The one you are searching for is there.”
TRIVIA
Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
An Italian sculptor and architect credited with creating the Baroque style of sculpture. As one scholar has commented,
“What Shakespeare is to drama, Bernini may be to sculpture: the first pan-European sculptor whose name is instantaneously identifiable with a particular manner and vision, and whose influence was inordinately powerful …”
