The Versatile Master Artist

European International Art Conference.

It is the largest official government-style art conference in Europe every year, and naturally, ”Oil Painting” magazine is always on the invitation list.

This year’s conference is once again held in our city’s New Art Center.

”Oil Painting” magazine has been allotted the prime speaking slot, followed by Cao Xuan, the representative figure of Asian Art, and the living fossil-level artist Gerhard Richter.

Those two old gentlemen, when combined, don’t have a collective age much less than the history of the United States’ founding.

Giving the speech by herself?

Anna remembered that in the original schedule, this part wasn’t included.

On stage, there should have been only Chairman Brown speaking.

”We made slight adjustments. After all, this year is a big year for ’Oil Painting’ magazine. The organizers are even willing to give you more time, oh, sorry, I should say, give us ’Oil Painting’ magazine a few more minutes now.” Ole patted his forehead and handed the entire folder directly to Anna.

”This is Sir Brown’s speech draft, cousin, you can prepare a bit beforehand.”

Anna took the speech outline and opened the folder.

”From Private Imprint to Public Perspective, from One Family to Global Beauty—A Century’s Journey of ’Oil Painting’ Magazine”

It’s a fairly lengthy speech draft.

It’s unclear whether it was drafted by Sir Brown or his personal secretary.

The manuscript also very professionally included action notes between different paragraphs, to guide the speaker on how to combine speech with body language during the delivery.

[...’Oil Painting’ magazine was founded by the Ilyena family in the 1870s, and it has a history of over 150 years. In the past two decades, under the leadership of the European Art Association, the circulation of ’Oil Painting’ magazine. Amidst the shrinking era of print publications, stable growth. (Gesture: Clench fist to show strength!) And launched digital journals and online...]

[...This year, with the acquisition by Krug Brothers Bank, our management has welcomed fresh blood. (Pause to signal to the audience, the stage lights will illuminate the VIP seats, Krug Bank representatives will stand and wave to everyone). In the future, ’Oil Painting’ magazine will analyze global art trends with a more diverse, more neutral and objective perspective...]

[...Looking back, the management of ’Oil Painting’ magazine has never lacked the surname Ilyena, even though the views of one family are not always correct, but who can blame people whose ancestors founded this magazine? (Show a helpless smile). There’s nothing wrong with that, if I had this power, I would also want to pass the chairman position to my son, unfortunately, he seems determined to become a sailor...]

[...Nonetheless, we still appreciate the Ilyena family’s contributions to the establishment of ’Oil Painting’... Now, let me introduce the beautiful Miss Anna Ilina. I believe many of you have already seen this young lady in Mr. Hibernian’s video. Personally, I don’t endorse participating in such unserious art competitions that might mislead the public, but I have to admit she is indeed charming... However, what you might not know is how much she commands respect (pause)...]

[...Miss Ilina was born with muscular issues in her right leg... Her specialty is accompanied by the care team and family doctor, she insists on self-training every day, sometimes requiring a full day of physical training in a rehabilitation room specially built in her manor... As for her art studies, she was exceptionally talented since childhood, the Ilyena surname seems to have bestowed her with endless magic power, successfully graduating as an outstanding student from the Vienna Art Academy, where her great-great-grandfather served as a trustee...]

As Anna read, she bit her lip hard.

Anna knew Sir Brown has always wanted to de-Ilyena-ize ”Oil Painting” magazine.

On the surface, this speech draft seems quite appropriate, but it continuously carries a tone of subtle mockery towards the Ilyena family and Anna herself.

The content barely skims over the contributions of the Ilyena family elders to ”Oil Painting” magazine, almost claiming all the credit for the magazine’s success for themselves.

And portraying the Ilyena family as an arrogant and powerless aristocracy.

As for Anna,

Sir Brown seems to be ”kindly” showering praise, yet intentionally or unintentionally depicting her as a pampered lady in a grand manor without understanding the hardships of life.

Reading through the entire speech, it’s filled with sarcastic innuendos, making it seem like all her achievements were shortcuts made possible by her ”Ilyena” surname, rather than her own efforts.

She is too young.

Sir Brown is clearly bullying Anna, leaving her no time or opportunity to prove her vision to the public.

He even goes out of his way in the text to quietly express dissatisfaction with Anna attending Thomas’s video as an editor of ”Oil Painting” magazine.

Not directly mentioning it, of course.

Just adopting a grandiose tone, calling Anna’s praise for Detective Cat a ”potentially misleading” influence on the public.