Van Gogh Reborn! - Chapter 88
“Fan signing event?”
[Mask] was released and the jet lag was adjusted, so I was going to take it easy today.
But suddenly John Carter suggested a strange job.
He asked me to sign for the spectators.
“Yes, I’m sorry to tell you all of a sudden.”
According to the explanation, the visitors made a request to the Whitney Museum of Art.
“The original agreement was to gather visitors and hold public interview, but why don’t we change the contents of the event for fans who want a closer experience?”
“What exactly do I need to do?”
“It’s a greeting and signing event with the fans. It will be a good experience for Mr. Ko because there are few opportunities to say hello in person to the fans.”
As John Carter said, it will be a good experience because there are not many opportunities to greet them directly.
What I’m curious about is why I have to sign.
“But why’s the signature?”
“It’s like a commemoration of the meeting.”
“Do I have to just write my name?”
I wondered if my sign would be useful for them. I can understand if it’s a painting.
“Yes. Oh, it’s good to write down simple phrases as a fan service.”
Uncle Bang showed the signatures of other famous personalities.
I saw a lot of clichés such as
‘Be happy with someone.’
It bothers me that I only have to do this much for those who came to see my painting, but I don’t think it’s bad to thank them.
When I turned my head, grandpa nodded his head.
“I’ll give it a try.”
John Carter was delighted by my words.
“Is the schedule for the day after tomorrow okay?”
“Yes, it’s okay, right Uncle Bang?”
“Yes it’s fine, Mr. Carter, is the time the same as before?”
Originally, the scheduled time for the public interview was one hour.
“That’s right. However, since the number that can be invited for a one-hour program is small, I would like to ask for a little more.”
Uncle Bang frowned and turned his head towards me.
“Hun, do you think 90 minutes will be okay?”
“Yes, Uncle.”
I’m not doing it all day, so I can gladly give 90 minutes to those who like my paintings.
“Let’s make it 90 minutes.”
“Thank you. Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. By the way, Henry Marceau has also accepted the signing event. You two will be together.”
And here I go….Once again getting involved with him.
“Is it just me and Marceau?”
“No, it’s not. Starting with you two, we’re going to invite two people every day. Since his work was similar to yours, we thought it would be better to have a joint event.”
“If you feel burdened to do it together, it’s okay to change it.”
Uncle Bang stepped up.
“No, it’s fine.”
There’s no reason to avoid him since he also seems to have changed.
I also want to ask him something about [Shadow].
“Is there a Ferdinando Gonzalez signing event?”
“Of course, we asked, but he refused because of his health.”
“Gonzalez? Is he ill?”
Grandpa asked anxiously.
I think he was anxious because he seems to be his good friend.
He was wearing a mask yesterday and I think he might have caught a cold.
“I don’t know for sure, Sir. Ko Sooyeol.”
“Hmm, there is no way that friend would refuse to do such an event.”
Grandpa took out his smartphone.
It seems like he is sending a message to Ferdinando Gonzalez.
John Carter continued to talk about the signing event.
“We’re going to control the number of people. If you sign about 100 people, it will be less burdensome.”
If I meet 100 people in only 90 minutes, I will be able to greet each person for about a minute. I wonder if I can properly say hello.
I want them to leave with a good memory.
I’m worried about what I can do in a short time.
“Well, I look forward to your kind cooperation.”
“Yes.”
I asked grandpa after breaking up with John Carter.
He put his smartphone in his pocket as if he had just sent a message.
“What did Grandpa do at the signing event?”
“I greet them and give them a signature.”
“Do they really like it?”
“I don’t know what they thought on the inside, but they looked happy.”
Grandpa seems to have read my mind.
“Why? Is it weird for you?”
“They came to see me. It’s just that I don’t like to just write down my name and send them.”
“Well……”
Grandpa thought for a while by sweeping his chin and then said.
“Then why don’t you pack some snacks as you did in the last individual exhibition?”
That’s a good idea.
Uncle Bang smiled and nodded his head.
“We’ll have to hurry if it’s for 100 people. I’ll get it ready.”
“Thank you, Uncle Bang.”
Thanks to Uncle Bang, I saved time to watch the Biennale.
“Oh.”
Uncle Bang asked with a puzzled expression.
“Can’t you draw something simple? Like at the immigration.”
“Uh… It’s not impossible, but it’s hard.”
“Why?”
“For fans, there’s no better gift than that, but there are 100 people. How can I draw 100 pictures in 90 minutes?”
“Then, what about something simple.”
If I draw a sunflower that projects my image in a simple form, one minute would be enough.
As I told my idea to Uncle Bang, grandpa asked with a worried expression.
“The idea itself is good, but won’t the rest of the people be disappointed if you get tired and can’t draw it later?”
Grandpa is right.
“Then I’ll practice and decide.”
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
Uncle Bang prepared a set of elegantly wrapped chocolates.
They said only 100 people would come, but he prepared a few more and gave me a box to try.
Noir Lindt is written in gold letters on a white background.
The old man in the picture is probably the person who made this chocolate.
I sat on the terrace bench on the second floor of the Whitney Museum of Art and shared it with Sihyeon.
There are 18 chocolates in 6 shapes.
BITE
“Delicious!”
Sihyeon’s eyes lit up.
This chocolate called Noir Lindt must have been made by the devil
I thought the boxes were luxurious and the packaging was luxurious, but when I tasted it, it wasn’t as luxurious as compared to this taste.
You can’t just put a fine piece of art in here.
It melts gently while feeling the unique bitter taste of cacao, teasing the tongue.
I fell into the temptation that I could not survive without eating one more, and I ate another one.
Indeed, it is worth $30 for 18 pieces.
This is enough to thank the people who came to see me.
“Umm.”
Sihyeon happily took one more and ate.
After eating one by one, we quickly emptied a box.
“…….”
The moment I met Sihyeon’s eyes, I could read his mind.
We ran to the chocolate kept in the waiting room.
We arrived at the waiting room in a hurry, and I was about to pick up a box and open it.
“Wait.”
I finally came to my senses.
When I counted the boxes in the waiting room, there were exactly 100 boxes.
If we eat this, there will be people who can’t get it and would have to go back empty-handed.
I shook my head.
“Not this one. I have to give it to the people who come to the fan signing event.”
“……It’s so delicious. Can’t we have one?”
If it had been for some other reason, I wouldn’t have hesitated.
At that time Sihyeon’s father’s secretary who came as his guardian entered the waiting room
“Uncle, can you get me one of these?”
“ Sorry Young Master. The CEO said, ‘ only one snack per day’.”
Sihyeon was very depressed by the guardian’s words.
I sat next to him and looked at the box of chocolates.
“It was delicious, wasn’t it?”
“It was very soft.”
“It wasn’t very sweet, but it was thick. Oh, it’s delicious even while thinking about it.”
Sihyeon moved his tongue as if he had tasted the chocolate left in his mouth.
After some time Uncle Bang came into the waiting room.
He put the oil pastel he brought on the table and said,
“I brought it, but are you sure you’re okay? As the professor said, you can’t continuously draw for a long time. It’s only about a minute for each person.”
“It’s okay, Uncle Bang.”
I thought it would be okay to prepare a short note, but I gave up because I didn’t know who was coming and didn’t know anything about them.
As expected, drawing a sunflower is the best.
It would be more meaningful for me and for my fans than signing it.
“Do you have any chocolate left, Uncle Bang?”
“ Yes. I have some in the car, why?”
I checked my watch and there was no time to go to the parking lot.
I want to hurry up and eat one, but I have to hold it in.
I think I know a little bit about why people are addicted to drugs.
“What’s the matter, Hun?”
“I….. I have never had such delicious chocolate”
“Hahahaha. Okay. I’ll bring it to you during the signing. Let’s slowly go out.”
Uncle Bang smiled as I raised my head with joy.
Sihyeon, who was in despair, also got delighted and his eyes lit up once again.
“Is Grandpa not here yet?”
“I think so.”
I guess grandpa who said he would go and meet Ferdinando Gonzalez has not returned yet.
I couldn’t delay any longer, so I stood up and prepared to leave for the signing event.
This is unlikely, but knowing how stupid and unconscionable people who are addicted to drugs are, I advised Sihyeon.
“You have to leave it alone. Let’s eat together.”
Sihyeon nodded quickly.
He is a good guy, so I decided to trust him this time.
Sihyeon’s guardian Jung Jinho stepped up.
“ Only one Snack per day, Young Master.”
The words castigated his happiness, hope, and will to live like a guillotine.
After following Uncle Bang out of the waiting room, I texted Sihyeon saying I would secretly give him chocolate later.
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
When I reached the venue, I could see people already standing in line.
People I saw for the first time in my life, waved their hands as soon as they saw me.
I’m glad.
I sat on the desk with my name on it.
Uncle Bang put chocolate and oil pastels next to me and patted me on my shoulder.
“Then do well. It’s okay not to draw if it’s too much. Since it’s a signing event.”
“Okay. Thank you, Uncle Bang.”
If I give up because it’s hard to draw, the person who didn’t get the picture will be sad, so I’m going to draw it for all of them.
As I opened the oil pastel and was thinking about Noir Lint chocolate, Henry Marceau arrived.
Michelle Platini and his secretary also came with him.
The people standing in line to get a sign from Henry Marceau are happy, jumping, and not making a sound.
“Hello.”
“Hmph.”
I greeted him with joy, while Henry Marceau sat down with a snort.
“How have you been Hun? The presentation was great.”
Michelle Platini greeted me gently.
“Thank you.”
As we shook hands, Michelle Platini opened her eyes wide.
“Oil pastel?”
“I’m going to draw for the fans.”
“Draw?”
Michelle Platini was startled.
Henry Marceau, who turned his head in my direction, laughed looking at the oil pastels.
“Didn’t you hear how many people were coming? How do you plan on drawing 100 pictures in 90 minutes?”
“I can.”
Yesterday, I simplified the sunflower shape using only two colors.
I didn’t draw much because I only got oil pastels this morning, but there are some that I drew in advance.
It will be possible if I work hard.
“Stop talking nonsense. Fan signing event is not a joke? What will happen to the remaining people if you can’t draw them later because you got tired?”
I thought he has changed a little, but his dog-like attitude hasn’t changed a bit.
“Don’t think I can’t do it because you can’t.”
“…….What?”
Henry Marceau growled when I turned my head because I didn’t want to deal with him anymore.
“What did you just say?”
“What?”
“What you can do, I can’t do it? So you are picking a fight, huh?”
Henry Marceau’s eyebrows are bizarrely twisted and veins popped up in his temples of the forehead.
“…Arsene.”
“Yes, El Patrón.”
“Bring me more sign pens!”
TRIVIA
Does Van Gogh know the word “fan”?
The form of modern fandom began in 1893 as a public protest in mourning for Conan Doyle’s mystery novel, Sherlock Holmes, when Holmes died. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary traces the exact use of the word fandom to around 1903. As fandom is a combination of Fan and suffix dom, the word Fan was likely used long before.
