The Versatile Master Artist

Regarding the restrictions on auctions, it was the Ma Shi Gallery that urgently added the stipulations after 2008.

In the industry, the term ”exclusive agent” in painter contracts originally, for the past half-century, typically only restricted painters from collaborating with competing galleries and other dealers.

There were no other restrictions outside of galleries.

In terms of social perception, it’s generally considered that a painter’s only channel to monetize their art is through this means.

Just cut off this source.

By convention, artists are not allowed to directly approach auction houses, and auction houses are not allowed to bypass galleries and primary dealers to directly collaborate with the artist.

This is an unspoken rule in the industry; no one does this, breaking the rules, and it’s not conducive to the healthy development of the industry.

Even top galleries like Ma Shi, PACE, and Gagosian.

The contract contents are all largely the same.

Until 2008, when Hirst bypassed his then-representative gallery, Gagosian, and directly persuaded the top executives of Sotheby’s to hold an unprecedented auction ”without middlemen taking a cut,” selling works worth over 200 million pounds.

This act, which violated market rules, almost shocked the entire art world.

Within the industry, evaluations of Hirst’s action were mixed, and this transaction, with various half-true and false behind-the-scenes rumors, have been gossip for more than a decade, with varied opinions.

A very popular theory holds that this auction was one of the important triggers for Hirst’s announcement of his breakup with Gagosian, with whom he had collaborated for many years.

After the incident, Ma Shi Gallery immediately added related ”anti-Hirst” clauses to its template contracts.

Why doesn’t a gallery simply write one sentence into the contract, requiring all the artist’s future commercial endorsements, IP peripherals, and even future trend design commercial ownership and all possible peripheral rights?

It’s not because gallery owners are kind-hearted.

It’s because this isn’t the Middle Ages, and it’s not signing a slave contract; there are relevant legal regulations.

Such sweeping unfair clauses, when sued in court, it’s unclear whether due to contract law using vague terms to control the final interpretation or being significantly unfair, judicial personnel might rule such clauses invalid, which is risky and uncontrollable.

The small money that painters secretly earn is not interesting to galleries.

Painters who can secretly earn big money can naturally afford a luxury legal team.

At that time, such agreements will have lawsuits to fight.

The Calder case, Jeff Koons Gallery case, The Henri Matisse Foundation vs. Warren case are all similar precedents.

Some results were obtained after lengthy litigation; more commonly, facing ever-increasing legal fees, both parties couldn’t continue with the lawsuits and reached an out-of-court settlement.

Galleries like Ma Shi, before signing, prefer to clearly and thoroughly list what the artist can and cannot do, the responsibilities and rights.

”Madam, this share is too high, I really can’t offer such a contract...” Hanks didn’t pay much attention to Gu Weijing’s inquiry and turned to face Mrs. Sakai.

”How about this, we put our offer here, you go back and consider it in the evening and find someone who can make decisions to talk to.” Mrs. Sakai suggested.

Hanks thought for a bit and simply decided not to struggle.

He came today with expectations like ”finding ignorant old farmers in the Yangon countryside to buy cheap unlabeled little donkeys.”

Hanks also only brought money to buy peasant little donkey foals.

When he discovered that this little donkey was ridden by Miss Sakai, with Professor Yajima and Lin Tao, two great artists, imprinted on its behind.

Regardless of whether the transaction can be completed,

This was already beyond something an ordinary hunter agent like Hanks could decide, he indeed needed to call and consult his superiors.

Gu Weijing flipped through the appendixes behind the contract, which had dozens of entries.

He skimmed through it.

It was detailed, mentioning auctioning, tax reporting, including how if they could enter high-end sales exhibitions like international art expos in the future, the gallery would bear the exhibition costs while the artist would need to additionally pay a 5% sales share, all these small matters were considered.

However, there was no restriction on cooperation with publishers stipulated.

In the gallery, serious painters earning money by drawing illustrations for books had no precedent in the industry.

Theoretically, according to the constraints of this contract, a future project similar to ”The Little Prince” shouldn’t require a commission...

It should be like this, right?

Gu Weijing originally wanted to clearly ask Hanks about the illustration matter.

Yet, he was afraid he’d mess things up, that there were no such conditions, and if he brought it up, they might just go back and add it in.

Anyway, it seemed unlikely they would sign today.

Gu Weijing felt, for such matters, he should also discuss with Mr. Tree Sloth.

...

”Dear madam. The two servings of Wellington steak you ordered, Chef Gordon instructed that if you are willing to sign and leave a photo on the wall at the restaurant entrance, this meal can be on the house.”

The waiter in a white uniform presented a steak wrapped in a golden crispy pastry on a white porcelain plate to the table, and said softly.

”Wherever you go, you always attract such attention, Little Anna.” Osborne gently sipped his sparkling champagne and teased.

Traditionally, London is reputed as the ”capital of dark cuisine,” yet it boasts the world’s highest density of Michelin and Black Pearl-listed premium restaurants.

Among them, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay is one of the most renowned.

Its leader, the Scottish hell chef Gordon Ramsay, once ranked in the top ten of the ”most charming men in the UK,” outpacing Sherlock, with combined followers on TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter exceeding fifty million.