Van Gogh Reborn! - Chapter 77

Uncle Bang put out the contract and started explaining.

“First, I’ll focus on the exhibition, but I’m not just going to do that.”

I nodded and listened.

“I’m sure you feel the same way, but it’s not good to have exhibitions often.”

Grandpa once said that it’s not good to put all the paintings in the exhibition.

He said it was effective to create enough works and display them with carefully selected ones.

“So for a few years, we will be going to go to the side of submitting good works every time to the exhibitions like the Whitney Biennale.”

“Okay.”

“The important thing is that you should constantly get exposed. Interviews are a given, and I’m thinking about appearing on TV or a big Newtube channel.”

“What am I going to do there?”

“You’ll be talking. What’s your view of art is, what you seek. You’ll be revealing yourself.”

“Not painting?”

In the first place, the act of conceiving a work itself is an act to reveal what I want to draw and what I want to say. I’m repulsed to say it.

“Yes, Artists should think of themselves as entertainers in this age. Some people work in a classical way, but in the end, how they are exposed to the media is really important.”

When Uncle Bang finished, grandpa stroked my head.

“It’s a parallel job. If you want your work to be recognized it’s unavoidable, as you gain recognition as an Artist you can gradually reduce it.”

It seems I can’t just be stubborn.

Listening to grandpa and Uncle Bang, I understood that the media seems to be an inseparable element in the current Art world.

That’s right.

Even when you sell an apple in the market, you have to promote it to the world.

Like grandpa said, even if I don’t like it, I should be a person who can do it.

I nodded my head.

“And actually, I didn’t think about Nolan. If you’re going to be active in that direction, there’s so much you can do.”

“I want to try as many things as possible.”

“Okay.”

Uncle Bang wrote something at the end of the contract.

“How was the script?”

“It’s fun. I’d like to try.”

“Then I’ll tell him in advance that we will meet right after the Whitney Biennale. It’s convenient to handle it together when you go to America.”

“Yes.”

Uncle Bang wrote something on his tablet this time.

I think he recorded the schedule so that he won’t forget.

“Then coming back to the contract. If it’s in the form of participating in other places, I’ll have to leave it to them, but I will take care of your solo exhibitions.”

“Thank you.”

I’ve checked his skills enough while preparing for [Sweet Happiness], so I can trust him.

“The contract is three years.”

“Three years?”

That’s too short.

“You may change your mind, so we will talk about it after three years.”

Uncle Bang seems to be thinking that I, who is still 11 years old in Korean age, can change my mind on the way.

I thought we would be together without thinking, but Uncle Bang’s proposal is certainly reasonable.

“Not bad.”

Grandpa agreed.
This contract is strictly regarded as a contract between me and Uncle Bang, and grandpa can only give advice.

“Okay.”

Uncle Bang nodded when grandpa hinted that he agreed.

“And I would like to receive 30 percent of the income settlement if I supervise the exhibition myself, and 5 percent of the revenue from outside activities. The exhibition we do ourselves, I have to do all the venues, promotions, and planning, so I hope you understand.”

The WH Museum took 40 percent with [Sweet Happiness].

From planning to renting an exhibition room to getting publicity and sponsors to commentary, 30 percent was regardless of understanding is a satisfactory percentage.

“How do you intend to maintain the company until when the exhibition will be held? You should have an income, too.”

Grandpa asked.

Uncle Bang smiled.

“I have good news,”

Uncle Bang confidently brought up good news as grandpa raised his eyebrows and wondered.

“In fact, there was a person who was interested when I told him that I was going to be Hun’s manager.”

“Who?”

“Robert Meyer, head of the marketing team of Schmincke.”

This is the paint I used when I drew [Sunflower].

It applied smoothly and I liked the color, but I was surprised to hear that the place where the paint was made contacted Uncle Bang.

Grandpa seems to be happy.

“How’s it going?”

“They asked Hun to draw a work with Schmincke paints so that they could use the content for publicity purposes.”

“Hmm. They like Hun, so I don’t think there’s any problem.”

“Yes.”

I nodded and turned my head, as grandpa confirmed.

“One thing that bothers me is that they want you to visit the headquarters in Düsseldorf.”

“As expected. They want him to work as a promotional model.”

I think they will be taking pictures.

“From Schmincke’s side, they want Hun to paint with Schmincke paint for the next year and shoot a commercial video announcing the excellence of Schmincke paint. Of course, it’s only for oil painting.”

“What do you think, Hun?”

“I don’t think it’ll be a big problem if it’s for one year. There is no condition to paint with only oil paintings, right Uncle Bang.?”

Uncle Bang nodded.

“How much will they give me if I do that?”

The conditions are not bad, so the most important of the remaining problems is money.

“He said he would try to match it up to 400,000 euros.”

When Uncle Bang said 400,000 euros, I didn’t know it well yet, so I searched it on my smartphone and found that it was a little over 500 million won.

For me, it feels too big to do just that and gain.

Grandpa groaned as if he was lost in thought and opened his mouth.

“It’s an outside activity, so it should be 5 percent.”

“Yes.”

“Would that be 25 million won?”

“Hahaha. It’s my first income. If I want to earn more, I have to bring more jobs. Actually, I haven’t signed an official contract with Hun yet, so I can’t move actively. The conversation with Schmincke is still in the discussion stage.”

“I think so.”

Grandpa turned his head.

“What do you think, Hun? Can you understand?”

“Yes, the ratio on the contract is good. Above all, I didn’t think of anyone else besides Uncle Bang as my manager.”

I looked at Uncle Bang and said,

“Also, as you just said, I’ll have to do well so that you can do well.”

“Yes. Trust me,”

I nodded faithfully.

“I have a condition I want to add.”

Uncle Bang blinked at my words.

Grandpa is also wondering what I would be saying.

“You said ‘Sunflower’ is the name of the company, right.?”

“Yeah.”

“I want to invest in ‘Sunflower’.”

“Huh?”

Uncle Bang’s reliable face became blank for a moment.

“Why?”

“I think it’s a safety device for me. If my money is in it, I’ll have a say in running ‘Sunflower’.”

It’s not that I don’t trust Uncle Bang.

It is to check that Uncle Bang doesn’t have any difficulty managing funds in the early stages.

Furthermore, if my capital is invested in ‘Sunflower’, I will receive a profit allocation as a corporate shareholder, so I can get a certain part of the money back from Uncle Bang.

“You’re smart.”

Sihyeon told me this and that when I said I will be signing a contract with Uncle Bang today.

The contract states that the capital is 200 million won.

I’ll put in 200 million won.

I’m going to get an income distribution.

But let’s increase the ratio a little more.

“The exhibition will remain at 30 percent, and 10 percent for outside activities.”

Uncle Bang scratched his chin.

⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩

Bang Taeho, CEO of Sunflower, was somewhat confused.

He highly appreciated Ko Hun’s painting and wanted to work with him, but he didn’t think this kind of thinking would be possible.

When Ko Hun invested 200 million won, Sunflower actually moved with Ko Hun’s will.

Ko Hun was the only contracted Artist, source of income, and also has the same stake as Bang Taeho.

As corporate profits were distributed, it became a perfect condition for the veteran.

However, Bang Taeho was not without merit.

It would be helpful in the early days of the business when it is difficult to estimate the expected return, although he boasted not to worry to his wife, Lee Hanna.

The more funds, the better.

Even if things went well with Schmincke and he earned 25 million won, it could have been a year’s total income.

If the exhibition were to be held in that state, Sunflower would have to take out a loan.

If Ko Hun invested 200 million won in capital, he could run the company quite leisurely.

If the distribution rate of profits from the contract with Ko Hun does not change, it may be a loss in the long run.

Considering the interest on the loan, it was a proposal worth considering.

Furthermore, when Ko Hun asked to adjust the distribution rate himself, Bang Taeho was surprised.

It was to recognize that the profit that will return to him increases when the sunflower runs smoothly.

‘Did Hun think of this alone?’

Ko Sooyeol also looked surprised to hear the suggestion.

In fact, Bang Taeho carefully prepared for the contract with Ko Hun and had created good conditions that Ko Sooyeol and Ko Hun would not refuse, and he had no doubt that it would be signed as it is.

Ko Hun also nodded while listening to the explanation and didn’t bring up anything special.

At the end of the day, he offered good terms for both sides.

“I was a little surprised. I didn’t think that way.”

“I had a good advisor.”

“A consultant?”

“A friend.”

Bang Taeho laughed quietly, thinking it might be Jang Mirae or Henry Marceau.

“Okay, then…”

Bang Taeho revised the revenue allocation area and the special agreement.

It was shown to Ko Sooyeol and Ko Hun, and Ko Soo-yeol nodded after much consideration, and Ko Hun signed it.

“I’ll be in your care, Artist Ko Hun.”

“I look forward to working with you Uncle Bang.”
Two people shook hands.

Ko Sooyeol, who looked at the scene happily, opened his mouth.

“We should eat something delicious on a day like this. Hun, what do you want to eat?”

“Professor, it’ll be my treat today. I’m in a good mood. Hun, what do you want to eat? Shall we eat beef?

“Do you eat beef on such a good day?”

Bang Taeho was confused by Ko Hun’s response.

Bang Taeho didn’t know what rich families eat on a commemorative day.

“You should at least eat jajangmyeon.”

“…”

Bang Taeho blinked.

He didn’t know whether Hun really likes jajangmyeon over beef or was he considerate to him looking at his crooked office.