The Versatile Master Artist

Chapter 18: Chapter 8: Master Cao Xuan

Gu Weijing had no idea that at this very moment, across the ocean, the world’s most famous influencer was browsing the homepage of the shop he had just opened on Nutshell from his bulletproof Lincoln car.

He was now in a slightly excited mood, waiting to participate in his first important international art project.

This morning marks the official start day of the [Great Golden Pagoda Mural Restoration] project.

According to the planned process, in the morning, there will be a small official ceremony. Besides various invited artists, local staff from Yangon, and embassy staff from Dongxia, India, Thailand, and others will be present, along with his grandfather.

After Gu Weijing returned from jogging, Gu Tongxiang had already prepared to set off.

Once he quickly showered and changed into a decent outfit, Gu Weijing sat in the back seat of the car.

In front of the Painting and Calligraphy Gallery, there were originally two parked cars.

One was a cheap SUV bought years ago, common on the streets of Myanmar, which his uncle and aunt took to visit family during the New Year.

Mr. Gu Tongxiang now drives an old car, a 1983 Lexus LS.

He got this second-hand from a Japanese businessman back in the nineties.

There’s a little story about that era.

When Mr. Gu was young, few studied fine arts in Myanmar, and even fewer could appreciate Western paintings.

Despite his family’s opposition, Gu Tongxiang mortgaged the house and used a few Small Yellow Fish left by his elders to acquire several old Victorian oil paintings from a colonial official’s mixed-race descendant.

A prosperous era favors antiques, a chaotic one favors gold.

As one of the world’s economically poorest places, everyone wanted to fill their stomachs, selling things cheaply.

Later, foreign businessmen came to Myanmar to build factories, coinciding with the climax of Japan’s bubble economy. Japanese businessmen, with the bravado to buy the world, elevated the art investment market, and Impressionist pieces began selling for high prices during that time.

Dealing with these artworks made Mr. Gu a fortune.

Their family isn’t considered very wealthy in Myanmar today.

But Gu’s Painting and Calligraphy Gallery could grow from a small workshop to a several hundred square meters shop due to Elder Gu’s astute judgment.

”Who’s the international project consultant organizing the mural restoration project this time? There must be some very famous people, right?”

Gu Weijing asked expectantly.

This project involves collaboration between local and foreign figures, and besides local experts, many renowned artists will attend. He wasn’t sure which master was the foreign consultant leading the project.

”Guess...” Gu Tongxiang pondered, not answering directly.

He deliberately teased him.

”There can’t be many options, right?”

Seeing his grandfather’s demeanor, Gu Weijing sat up straight.

He counted on his fingers.

”Since it’s an official international project, Myanmar will surely invite world-famous artists. Being the restoration of Eastern Temple murals, there must be a foundation in meticulous brushwork, not purely Western-style painters. Such options aren’t wide.”

”I’ve heard rumors before, Dongxia’s renowned painters Lin Tao, Wei Weiming, Tang Mengqing... or Japan’s Xiaoshan Gu Ming, Tanaka Hidefumi, Yakai Ichiro, Vietnam’s Lei...”

Looking at his grandfather shaking his head in the rearview mirror, Gu Weijing became more puzzled.

This covers the elite painters of East Asia, any of whom have received significant international awards. If not them, then who could it be?

”Wait, could it be... could it be Elder Cao?”

He suddenly considered a possibility, feeling his heart skip a beat.

”That’s right, leading the mural restoration work this time is none other than Cao Xuan, Master Cao.” Gu Tongxiang emphatically tapped the steering wheel.

Mr. Cao Xuan, from Dongxia Huizhou, representative of the Jiangnan Painting School.

Considered a titan of Chinese Painting.

Compared to oil painting, Chinese Painting, especially modern Chinese Painting, receives cold reception at European auctions from foreign buyers, even for gem-level masterpieces, the bidders are mostly Asians.

But Cao Xuan...this name is an exception.

With his unique Eastern aesthetics and meticulous painting skills, he has won over many foreign collectors previously unaware of oriental Chinese Painting.

Just to illustrate, in today’s Chinese Painting world, only Cao Xuan’s works reach auction levels of eight million to ten million US dollars.

Many don’t understand this concept.

Even Monet’s works, some can be acquired for just a million dollars.

”How could it be Teacher Cao? He’s over ninety years old, right?”

Being able to meet such an idol-like senior artist, Gu Weijing felt happy yet somewhat incredulous.

The names he mentioned are certainly prestigious, but still a notch below Elder Cao.

Cao Xuan, a gem-level artist, each has their long creative cycles, possibly taking years uninterruptedly to complete a piece, preoccupied with creation.

These masters, neither lacking money nor peculiar in temper, seldom wish to lead mural restoration, which is taxing, time-consuming and somewhat deemed derivative.

If they choose not to, no one can sway them, even offering one billion dollars would be dismissed as nonsense.

Gu Weijing knew Elder Cao announced retirement from painting five years ago.

Previously invited by Hamburg University of Fine Arts as head of the Eastern Art Department and lifetime professor, he occasionally lectures, having retired from painting.

”Getting Master Cao this time was lucky.”

Mr. Gu stroked his now-whitened beard.

Despite his age, technically only half a generation younger than Elder Cao. At this age, witnessing the legendary career of the counterpart.

Mentioning Cao Xuan now, even brings a child-like excitement.

”Originally, Tama Art University’s Yakai Ichiro was intended as the external consultant for the mural restoration, he has past experience, Myanmar official only courteously sent a tentative invitation to Hamburg Academy of Fine Arts, not expecting to persuade the old master, but who knew...”

”Who knew Elder Cao agreed?”

Gu Weijing pursued.

”Indeed. These years, Elder Cao has devoted himself to teaching, aiming for international youngsters to comprehend the artistic charm of the East, having laid down his brush long before.”

”And this time?” the young man asked.

Gu Tongxiang explained, ”But being a devout Buddhist, upon hearing it’s the restoration of Buddhist sacred site Great Golden Pagoda’s murals, he hesitated but ultimately decided to contribute his effort.”

His grandfather watched Gu Weijing through the rearview mirror: ”Being able to learn under Elder Cao, this opportunity is rare, you must treasure it. Such master’s insight is incomparable to your grandfather’s. If he offers some casual pointers, it’s enough to benefit you for a lifetime.”

”I understand.”

Just as Gu Weijing nodded, a new task prompt suddenly appeared before him.

[Current Task: Enhance Chinese Painting technique proficiency to Lv.3 Semi-Professional by mural creation]

[Task Reward: (Knowledge-based) ”Mojie’s Handwriting”]

[Task Deadline: Three days (remaining time - 71 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds)]

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