Van Gogh Reborn! - Chapter 64

Jang Mirae couldn’t believe her ears.

‘I didn’t mishear, right?’

She knew that Henry Marceau was a person who didn’t hesitate to buy his favorite art.

She also knew that he had a lot of money, at least as much as it was known to the public.

But considering all that, the price was ridiculous.

The highest winning price at WH Art museum Auction was 5.7 billion won, which was the work of Artist Kim Hyunki, who was on-par with Ko Sooyeol.

Although the works of painters Ko Sooyeol and Kim Hyunki were traded for more than 10 billion won at overseas auction sites such as Sotheby’s, five million euros was the first time figure for an auction house in South Korea.

It was not unreasonable for Jang Mirae to be surprised, and it was the same for everyone watching the scene.

Even if it was an auction where a lot of high-profile wealthy people from overseas participated, how many people would have 5 million euros or 6.8 billion won in cash?

Most of the auction participants lost their will to bid.

‘What are you thinking?’

Jang Mirae doubted Henry Marceau’s intention before the joy that her beloved child’s work was recognized for an amount beyond imagination.

Koh Hun’s [Guest] has won a bid of 4 million euros at the Marceau Auction, but rarely has any paintings exceeded 5 million euros.

She also got immersed in [Frost wheat field], and she fully understood it’s value, but 5 million euros was beyond the Artist’s individual popularity and the value of the work, it was an amount proportional to a historically significant work.

‘No way.’

Jang Mirae shook her head while doubting whether Henry Marceau was thinking of using Ko Hun’s work for another purpose.

‘No. He’s not that kind of a person.’

He was a rude and eccentric man, but Jang Mirae believed that Henry Marceau’s heart towards Art was sincere.

But not everyone was like her.

People suspected that Henry Marceau might consider Ko Hun’s work an object of speculation or use it to avoid taxes.

Otherwise, they thought he wouldn’t be able to offer such a ridiculous price of 5 million euros.

They thought there might be a reason, since Henry Marceau even wasted time going to the auction in person.

At that moment, a man broke the silence,

“ 6 million dollars.”

The eyes of people in the astonished auction house were focused on one place, except Henry Marceau.

It was Christine Nolan, the iconic movie director of the 21st century.

“It’s director Nolan.”

“Oh my God.”

There were also occasional slip of the tongue at the auction.

False bidding was something that should be watch out for at the auction house, since some people offer an amount beyond their ability due to a momentary mistake in judgment.

However, there was no way for that to happen for a movie maker whose worth was more than billions of dollars.

“What? Really?”

“ 6 million dollars?”

“It’s not a historical masterpiece.”

The hall quickly became noisy.

The auctioneer Jong Sijoon managed to remain calm and accepted Christine Nolan’s offer.

“The highest price is $6 million. We’ll be changing the bid to U.S. dollars for smooth progress.”

Jong Sijoon could not determine what amount to present.

There was no need to set an amount for the two people who defies common sense.

Their willingness to [Frost wheat field] was fully revealed by their bidding price, and all that remained was to assist in the competition between the two.

“7 million”

Henry Marceau announced, without looking at Christine Nolan.

The will of other participants to secure funds somehow has been completely broken.

“8 million.”

Nolan held up the number tag before Jong Sijoon even called Henry’s bid.

People just watched the two mammoth individuals who didn’t yield at all.

The same was true for Ko Hun, the Painter of [Frost Wheat field].

The boy shook his head and rubbed his eyes.

He thought he heard it wrong, but the front screen said $8 million.

“Are they in their right minds?”

Ko Hun couldn’t understand neither Henry Marceau nor Christine Nolan.

It was a work of great significance and a cherished work, but he never thought it was work that would worth this much.

“9 million.”

Henry Marceau raised the price again, and Ko Hun, who had stopped the thinking, turned his head.

“What’s wrong with him?”

Ko Sooyeol, who was puzzled by his grandson’s whisper, replied.

“That’s why I told you not to hang with that guy…That guy Henry Marceau is really cra…..”

“10 million dollars.”

Ko Sooyeol’s words overlapped Christine Nolan’s voice.

Grandfather and grandson, who were sitting side by side opened their mouth at unison, and just blinked their eyes.

They’re really crazy.

It’s more than 10 billion won. Is there an artist in Korea who sold a painting for 10 billion won?

There are only three, Ko Sooyeol, Kim Hyunki, and Jang Mirae.

But the three has never exceeded 10 billion won at auction in Korea.

How much is $10 million?

It’s on the screen. At the current exchange rate, it must be 10.9 billion won.

I really don’t understand. I know Ko Hun is good at painting. I like Ko Hun’s painting. But never thought it would be over 10 billion won for a single painting?

How can we understand the minds of rich people? In the first place, paintings are consumables to them.

They are trying to buy it because they think it’s worth it. To put it simply, it’s an investment for them.

I don’t think so. People like Henry Marceau don’t sell works that he bought once.

The one who chatted above is wrong. Just because they bought it at that price doesn’t mean they can get that price later. Vincent van Gogh’s “Portrait of Dr. Gache” was initially sold for $82.5 million, including a commission, but later got sold for half the price.

Giving Ko Hun such a price in a situation where they doesn’t know how he will be evaluated in the future is a huge risk, if they are buying it as an investment.

Then why the 10 billion won, it doesn’t make sense.

But it makes sense to them. Those who are overflowing with money are like that. Once they put their mind to it, they want it no matter what.

Thanks to the auction price rising to 10 million dollar, article and response from the community sites and WH Art Museum’s New Tube channel were exploding.

Due to the rapid concentration of so many viewers, the broadcast video got cut off.

People turned to TV channel NBC to see the historic moment, and the ratings of the channel quickly rose to 8 percent.

It was an unusual figure for a TV station in its twilight years.

Reporter Lee Inho of the ‘The Korean Express’ did not even think about writing an article, he just watched the situation.

Lee Inho has been interested in art since covering Hun, but he could not understand the situation of paying more than 10 billion won to buy a work.

‘Will I be able to pay such an amount for a single painting?’

Lee Inho shook his head.

At least with his common sense, he could not understand Henry Marceau and Christine Nolan.

His sense of journalism was telling him that there must be some reason.

⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩⏩

“Is that true?”

Meanwhile, Eric Dawer, director of the Whitney Museum, who was on the phone with Michelle Platini, was very happy.

It was because of the good news that shook his fatigue of waking at early morning.

– Yes. We would like to exhibit a new work of Marceau along with three collections.

A new work by world-renowned painter Henry Marceau and his collections.

It was great news to Eric Dower, who did not expect much since Henry Marceau held an individual exhibition just a few months ago.

– So we would like to ask for a good location.

“There’s no reason not to do so.”

Eric Dower, director of the agency, rejoiced.

“I want to know about the details of the work. As you know, there are things to prepare in advance.”

-The new work is a 40P canvas oil painting, and the collections are oil paintings by Ko Hun. We want you to hang Henry’s work and Ko Hun’s work facing each other.

‘Oh, Ko Hun. Isn’t he the Artist I was planning to invite. But getting a chance to display his three works…….’

Eric Dower tilted his head.

As a known fact, only two of Ko Hun’s works have been sold.

One was his first work [Sunflower] purchased by Henry Marceau, and the other was [Guest] purchased by an unidentified man.

Michelle Platini’s request was to hang three works.

“ Ms. Platini, by three works do you mean…..?”

– Yes, including the [Frost wheat field].

Eric Dower frowned.

As far as he knows, [Frost wheat field] was under auction.

‘Is it over already?’

Eric Dower quickly searched for the article in a hurry in his Tablet.

However, there were only speculative articles about what the appropriate price of [Frost Wheat Field] is and in whose hand it will fall into.

There was no news that Henry Marceau had won the bid.

It would have been widely reported if it had been brought already.

‘Is the news late since it happened in South Korea?’

Eric Dower, asked Michelle Platini.

“ Ms. Platini. I tried to check it up, but news seems to be running late. Did Mr. Henry Marceau already won the bid. Congratulations.”

– No. The auction should have started by now. We haven’t won the bid yet.

Eric Dower couldn’t understand the situation where Marceau Gallery was asking to display a painting that they had yet to own.

Eric Dower cleared his throat and asked.

“Well, then how…”

– Henry said he’d buy it, so don’t worry.

“Hahaha. It seems Mr. Marceau has a unique personality.”

– I Know. He’s a very difficult person to work with.

Michelle agreed with Eric Dower and laughed quietly.

Many people are interested in Ko Hun’s [Frost Wheat Field] but the story would change if billionaire Henry Marceau decided to buy it.

– I’d like you to make a schedule as soon as possible. After the auction, Henry will come to New York by himself.

“I will hurry the preparations, I’ll take care of it by the end of next week.”

– Thank you, then.

After the call, Director Eric Dower sighed several times.

He was overwhelmed when he thought, he could display the works of Henry Marceau and Ko Hun, who are currently the most talked about Artist.

He thought it would be hard to invite both of them since they recently held an individual exhibition, but it was like a blessing from the heaven.

Henry Marceau’s new work, which used to always be released first at the Marceau Gallery will be released at Whitney, along with the recently most talked about work [Frost Wheat Field] of Artist Ko Hun.

Eric Dower believed that both works would enrich the Whitney Biennale this year.

‘But why ?’

Eric Dower couldn’t understand why Henry Marceau had to do this while going to the extent of buying [Frost wheat field].

‘Maybe they didn’t want the [Frost wheat field) to be displayed at the WH Art Museum due to a contract problem.’

‘Or for some reason, Henry Marceau wanted to display it at Whitney Biennale.’

Eric Dower thought it could be because Henry Marceau highly appreciated and cared for Ko Hun.

“They must be close,”

Eric Dower shrugged his shoulders and poured Cold Brew coffee.

He slowly savored the coffee, while looking for the press release of WH Art museum, and suddenly articles kept popping up like a storm.

[Frost wheat field, sold for $14 million!]

[Henry Marceau shoots big!]

[Frost wheat field, fetches the largest auction price this year]

Coffee started dripping down from Eric Dower’s mouth.