Van Gogh Reborn! - Chapter 37

I’m happy that the unknown guy appreciates my work, but I wondered if it’s really okay to bid it for an absurd amount like this.

Richard Phillips glanced at the man wearing a mask.

Photographers are busy taking photos.

It was sold for the same price as [Henry Marceau 766], the work by the current most trending Artist Henry Marceau.

It is not unreasonable for the auctioneers to stutter in confusion.

“4 million, 4 million euros. The gentleman wearing a mask has bid for 4 million euros. Do you have 4.1 million euros?”

Richard Phillips whispered to the man who came with him and sighed.

“4 million euros, 4 million euros, and Sold. Thank you.”

Unlike the previous two auctions, the sound of applause was mixed with confusion.

“We’ll invite Ko Hun, the Artist, who painted the [Guest] which just won the bid.”

The auction participants clapped once again.

They were clapping with their hands, but they are talking about various things with the people they were with.

The reporters were busy with something and even Grandpa, who was on the terrace couldn’t hide his surprise.

I calmed myself down and stood in front of the stage.

The mic was at a height higher than mine.

“How to make it come down?”

I didn’t know the structure behind this work called Mic.

The auction participants laughed looking at my short stature.

Everyone smiled with their mouths covered, laughing lightly.

I didn’t know the reason, but they seemed to be happy.

The staff ran over and lowered the mic.

“Umm.”

Looking around the participants, it felt like they want me say something nice.

I’ve never been in this kind of a situation before, so I didn’t know what to say.

As I was contemplating like that, the host asked for my thoughts.

“How do you feel Master Ko Hun? “

“It feels good. Who hates money?”

I just replied honestly, but the onlookers opened their eyes wide and began to laugh.

When I turned my head towards where Grandpa was, he was covering his face with his hands.

It seemed like they want me to talk more.

So I continued.

“I was really jealous when I saw visited Marceau Gallery. He can display his work as much as you want. I also wish that one day I too wanted to have my own gallery.”

I turned my head towards the man wearing a mask.

“Thanks to you, I took one step closer to that dream. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

When everyone clapped their hands, the man wearing a mask turned his gaze away.

He seems to be very shy person.

“Can you explain the drawing briefly?”

The same annoying question again.

How can I briefly explain all the complex thoughts contained in that painting?

The painting was completed by repeatedly contemplating how to express my feelings looking at those who visited the Van Gogh Museum.

How can such an emotion be expressed with words?

“I can’t explain it briefly.”

When I said that while looking at the host, she replied.

“Oh, then you can tell us about it.”

“ If I could express it in words, I would have just written it down. I thought about the best way to convey Vincent van Gogh’s feelings. I couldn’t find any explanation other than this painting.”

Richard Phillips clapped as the confused host swallowed his words.

Soon, all participants of the auction began to clap.

Although the price of [Guest] set by the people here is confusing, I hope that every person present here had found at least some emotion present in the painting.

I hope everyone doesn’t look at the painting as a mere investment.

I did what I had to do as an Artist.

Now it’s the people’s job to judge my work.

Whether they were able to able to experience the emotion I felt or not is not up to me.

I completed my speech by saying.

“ Thank you……..”

As soon as I began to speak, the applause subsided.

“Thank you to everyone here, and everyone who visited the Gallery to look at my painting. Because of you, I will be able to draw my next picture.

I don’t know how they feel about my painting, but I felt happy, seeing this many people recognising my work.

Not only the man with a mask, who won the bid for [Guest], but also thanks to those who tried to buy my paintings, I can get the courage to lift the brush again.

The applause got louder.

I had to wait for a long time to say the last word.

“I had a very precious experience today. The one thing I regret is, the best work in this exhibition hasn’t yet found its owner.”

Reporters shone their eyes hearing my words.

“Yes, that’s right. It’s the sculpture that I drew eyes on.”

On the second floor, Grandpa’s eyes started to lit up as if saying not to speak about useless things.

But I have to say what I have to say.

This is the last piece of advice I can give for Henry Marceau, who is not here.

“I’ve never seen such a wonderful sculpture. I highly appreciate his spirit of not being satisfied even after making such a work. I hope he doesn’t lose that pure heart.”

I bowed my head to express my gratitude.

As I came down from the stage, the host wiped her sweat with a handkerchief and continued the event.

“That were some great thought from Master Ko Hun, who was just 9 years old. I’m ashamed of myself for not have such a wide view on things like the little boy.”

Grandpa, who came down, hugged me tightly.

“Then as the last step, I’ll reveal the special event prepared by Marceau Gallery.”

I thought it was the end of the auction, but there’s still seems to be something else.

And I also had to say my thanks to the man who bought my painting.

I turned my head to the left and right, searching for the man wearing mask, but I couldn’t find him anywhere.

Did he leave already?

He wouldn’t have left already since he has yet to receive the painting.

While my eyes kept wandering, the auction employees dragged out something heavy.

Creeeeeeak…..

A heavy screeching sound was heard.

That thing was covered with cloth, so I didn’t know what it is.

There were wheels attached to the bottom to making it easier to move.

Crash

There was another loud sound coming from behind the stage.

Henry Marceau, the person that neither me nor my grandpa wanted to meet, walked out.

“Tch, Why is this Mic so low? Oh, did a brat speak.?”

No matter how I look at him, I seems to have good impression of him.

Henry Marceau, clicked his lips and stared at me.

I clenched my fists, just in case if he rushed towards me, but soon, he turned towards the auction participants.

“The world has been buzzing about me over the past few days.”

“The reason why I haven’t stepped up separately is because I’ve been looking for myself.”

“Do you have any apology?”

Suddenly, a reporter shouted courageously.

Henry Marceau looked at him gently and called the staff.

“Take that f*cker out.”

He still seems to be the same.

How can he harsh towards media?

In my previous life, even the nobles were afraid to make media their enemy.

The reporter semi-forced by the staff went out, while other reporters filmed that scene.

Henry Marceau continued his story as if nothing had happened.

“ You’re all lucky. I’m going to show you the results of my search here today.”

When Henry Marceau clapped his hands, the employees removed white cloth covering the thing they brought..

It was [Marceau’s Jewel]

I was wondering what he did to it, but it seems he had done some changes to it.

However, the eyes remain the same as I had drawn .

Both hands are colored.

Auction participants and reporters also tried to squint and see it.

Marceau’s hand in [Marceau jewel] was enlarged and reflected on the stage screen.

“Oh, oh”.

“How did he do that?”

The calluses on the fingers caused by holding the brush for a long time, and the calluses of the palm because of using chisels and hammers repeatedly.

Blood vessels popping out on the back and bottom of the hand and their curves.

The thin flesh under the fingernails and wrinkles were expressed in such a way, making it seem as if a person’s hand was attached to the marble.

It was so realistic.

It was amazing.

It was a work that seemed like a collaboration of a top-notch painter and a top-notch sculptor.

It can’t be more perfect .

I even want to watch how he worked on it.

“There was a mistake.”

Henry Marceau calmly opened his mouth as he watched everyone’s reaction.

“I couldn’t be satisfied with this work at that time, and wished not to give my name to an incomplete work.”

He turned and looked at me.

“Then that brat gave an answer. He said ‘The jewel is within me’. I couldn’t understand it at first. But I now knew the answer.”

Henry Marceau lifted his hand up in the air.

“This hand is my real jewel. It contains the skills that I’ve been honing for 27 years.”

I was glad that he could find the real answer.

No sound was heard in the room.

Reporters’ shutter sound just continued from time to time.

“ It is an answer which I would have got right, if it was 27 years ago, but as time went by, my attention shifted from my hand to myself.”

“ The way the kid tried to tell me that might have been unprofessional and should be avoided. But it was helpful. As an adult and as a senior Artist I would like to forgive the kid.”

“Hey Ko Hun. Thank you”

I thought he was reflecting, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

It is clear that I should head-butt again.

No…this time instead of a head-butt, I should try a upper cut.

“Ko Hun. Come to the stage”

People at the auction turned towards me and began clapping one by one.

Some even sniffled tears.

I don’t understand what they were so touched about.

There is a desire for reconciliation between the two of us in the eyes of those who see me.

It may seem like a touching reconciliation to them, but to me, it seems that a guy who is not honest is just pretending to be kindhearted.

I went on to the stage.

Stood next to Henry Marceau and looked at him in his eyes.

It reminded me of the day I sold [Sunflower] to him.

After calming myself I opened my mouth.

“Me too. I’ll also forgive you for being unprofessional and acting like a child.”

Henry Marceau’s lips trembled.

Seeing people applauding and cheering, he barely hold back his mouth.

Once he took a deep breath, he moved his chin toward [Marceau’s jewel].

“Take it. It’s a gift.”

“Oh!”

The auction house quickly became noisy.

“The Masterpiece among Henry Marceau’s works will be given for free.”

“Oh my God.. The auction price of [Marceau’s Jewel] would have more than adding up the prices of the items sold today.”

“ If it’s auctioned. For what price will it be bought?”

“It would have gotten the highest price among Marceau’s works”

Some people who participated in the auction murmured as if they wanted to have it and started talking without not being able to hide their true feelings.

Even Richard Philips, an acquaintance of Grandpa, sweeps his chin and clicked his lips.

I turned towards [Marceau’s Jewel] and then towards Henry Marceau.

When everyone’s eyes were on us, I replied.

“I don’t want it.”

The whole auction house went silent once again.

Henry Marceau’s expression began to crumple.

He twisted his eyebrows strangely and asked.

“What? Why? Do you not like it.? Or are you saying it’s not good.?”

“No. It’s good. It’s a perfect piece of Art.”

“ Then why…you damn brat.!”

“ It’s way too real. And I don’t want to wake up everyday and look at that face.”

The host who was looking at us dropped the Mic in her hand.

The entire room got filled with a ringing sound from the Mic drop.