The Versatile Master Artist

A significant part of this is due to the diplomatic policies of the Gulf countries that flaunt wealth, showcasing their national image externally. If compared in terms of hot money circulating in the entire market, even renowned wealthy countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar combined cannot compare to the Dongxia Market.

Hanks had somewhat learned a couple of phrases in Chinese.

He not only could speak Mandarin, but also Cantonese, saying auspicious phrases like ”Congratulations on getting rich” and ”May your wealth be plentiful.”

An agent is also part of the service industry; it’s only by making the bosses happy that they will be willing to spend on their represented artists, right?

”I wonder... what brings you here?”

Gu Tongxiang felt greatly honored.

He hesitated for a moment but still voiced his inner speculation. ”Could it be that Ma Shi Gallery wants to buy my grandson Weijing’s work? What an honor.”

”You could say that, but we don’t buy works.”

Hanks shook his head, looking directly into Gu Tongxiang’s eyes: ”This time, I flew to Yangon to specifically sign Mr. Gu Weijing.”

Thud!

The words fell into his ears.

Mr. Gu’s chair made a creaking sound.

The sophistication gained from years of struggling on city streets allowed the old master to maintain an outward calmness, but in an instant, a touch of uncontrollable moisture welled up in the corners of his eyes.

Gu Tongxiang was still a bit confused as to how the grand Ma Shi Gallery found their humble home.

He no longer cared about that,

At this moment, the old master’s emotions were as turbulent as the tides, with a warm sensation flooding from his heart to his eyes, and spilling out from every pore.

Probably only those parents in Dongxia, who wish for their children to become dragons and phoenixes, can slightly understand Gu Tongxiang’s current feeling of ecstatic disbelief when they receive a call from the Qingbei admissions office.

Ma Shi Gallery!

The name kept echoing in Gu Tongxiang’s mind.

Darn it, it’s Ma Shi Gallery!

Once as famous as Gagosian, Ma Shi Gallery!

Every person who has held a paintbrush dreams of reaching the pinnacle of art, signing with a top gallery, and holding their solo exhibitions in art museums around the world, right?

When Gu Tongxiang was young, he had also fantasized about such a scene in his dreams.

But dreams are ultimately just dreams. At the age of ten, Gu Tongxiang knew such dreams didn’t belong to him, nor to his environment.

His talent wasn’t bad, but no matter how well he painted, those high and mighty art critics wouldn’t spare a glance.

The ceiling was practically sealed.

His future profession was to sit with a small bench under the overpass painting, which was also his fate.

Later, after starting a family and establishing a business, when he had a bit more money, the old master did not even dream such dreams anymore.

In the years he was dealing in oil paintings, he had opportunities to explore developed Asian countries and cities with foreign investors.

But the old master himself refused.

He was the pillar of the family. If he chased his dreams, what would happen to the orphans and widows at home?

The older he got, the less he thought about himself, and the more he thought about his children and grandchildren.

Gu Tongxiang hoped day and night for the day his grandson could join those large intercontinental galleries and become truly distinguished.

In the past few months,

Although his grandson had shown more and more talent, he gradually felt that in his lifetime, he might indeed see such a scene.

But when Ma Shi Gallery’s agent was sitting alive right in front of Mr. Gu, he couldn’t help but feel the urge to cry.

The old master lowered his head, pretending to hold a teacup to drink tea, and subtly wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his fingertips.

”Hehehe, that’s right, I like to see the old master with this look of gratitude and tears,” Hanks was very satisfied with Gu Tongxiang’s reaction.

Talking to someone in the know about Ma Shi Gallery’s status was easier, this time the signing should not take much effort.

”Gu Weijing... he is not home right now, I’ll call him to come back.”

”It’s alright, we can discuss it first.” Hanks was not particularly in a hurry.

Gu Weijing wasn’t of age yet, so once they settled things with his guardian, it would just be a matter of signing when the kid came back.

”Um, may I ask about my grandson’s age, are you officially representing him, or...” Gu Tongxiang had calmed down and hesitantly questioned.

”We come from Ma Shi Gallery with complete sincerity, unlike some peers who play those underhanded tricks, naturally it’s a formal contract.”

Some grand galleries establish their creative parks specifically for young artists and host their own art competitions.

Through these methods, they would broadly engage, train, and observe many candidates with decent talent.

Only a very few outstanding ones can get a formal contract.

A lot of candidates are observed for three, four, or even five years or more from initial contact until the gallery decides to formally represent them.

Before that,

Their names wouldn’t be listed on the agent artist list of the official website or Wikipedia homepage to prevent tarnishing the gallery’s reputation.

Strictly speaking,

Koizumi Katsuko currently does not belong to the officially represented artists of the Tokyo Gallery.

Hanks didn’t hesitate much on this issue and simply said, ”If the signing goes smoothly, Gu Weijing will be the 302nd officially represented artist since Ma Shi Gallery’s establishment, and will, like countless brilliant names in art history, become an honored Ma Shi person.”