Soul Painter

Countdown to Christie's auction.

This time, Hongkong, London, Paris, and New York are jointly auctioned in four places, claiming to create a miracle in the history of auctions, and the transaction amount is expected to exceed 30 billion US dollars.

In order to build momentum, Christie's began to frequently break out various news.

For example, the news that the "Heart of the Ocean" would be handed down in the jewelry session caused a stir in public opinion. Although it was later proved to be false news, it did attract the attention of the public.

The 'gambling agreement' between Gao Fan and Christie's, as one of the heavyweight news, has attracted a lot of attention.

Especially in the domestic art circle, Gao Fan's artistic achievements are still being understood, and this news seems to have dropped another blockbuster.

Four paintings worth 400 million US dollars? What is that concept? Among the surviving painters, there is absolutely no such worth, and among the dead painters, there are less than ten people who can match it. This is not a gamble, this is pure hype, right?

Besides, this is not a personal bet between Gao Fan and Christie's. After all, in terms of the auction process, the two parties are actually one. It is obviously Gao Fan's bet on the global collection industry, or an invitation. From the point of view, there is a feeling of 'you people are stupid and quick to get money'.

"This Gao Fan, I always think it's too high-profile." In Guardian Auction House, several employees were discussing, "I have already had a wave of presence in Boston, but at Christie's, the presence is even more slippery."

"Four paintings cost 400 million U.S. dollars, and only the fifth painting will come out. God, what kind of confidence is this, when the whole world is begging him to sell paintings? If these four paintings total 100 million U.S. dollars He didn’t even take pictures, so where do we put his face?” Another person said.

"Put 100 million dollars on it." Other colleagues laughed at him, "If my painting can sell 100 million dollars, no, even if it can only sell 10 million dollars, I would rather put my face on the ground and let you step on it casually, and you have to ask Are your feet feeling good?"

"Who are you, who is Gao Fan, you are the leader of the oil painting world in the new era, a master who has never appeared in China, his face is much more valuable." Someone said.

"No, face is not that important to an artist, isn't a scum like Picasso also enshrined in the altar?" Someone said.

"Is that right?" Someone turned around and asked Xin Wei who was quietly listening.

"You are all right." Xin Wei said with a smile, "Artists don't need to lose face."

...

Govan's bet with Christie's also aroused some criticism from potential buyers.

Although as a master who has just become famous, as a leader leading a new generation of painting art trend (evaluated by "American Art"), as a top scarce painter without any works circulating in the market, Gao Fan should have, in this period, In the art market, you have the right to get whatever you want.

But 4 paintings of 400 million US dollars are too much. According to the psychological price of buyers, the price of a work by Gao Fan should be between 20 million and 30 million US dollars. This is already a very high price. After all, "Mask "The series of paintings is not Gao Fan's most famous work. Gao Fan's most famous work at the moment is "Bostonian".

Buyers are willing to pay $100 million or more for The Bostonian, a great work with a legendary story after all.

...

Since Christie's Spring Auction is about to open.

Therefore, the global art market is undercurrent.

Numerous overt and covert transactions are going on among various buyers and sellers.

Of course, Lawrence is also one of the predators surging in this undercurrent.

In early April he received an offer.

Now Lawrence's job is to negotiate with some potential buyers and communicate feelings, so he is happy to come to this invitation from Mr. Luc Villiers because he smells money.

Mr. Luc Villiers is about sixty years old, but he is tall, strong and energetic, with a kindness and elegance in his blue eyes typical of the Germanic features. He is well-dressed and has a gentlemanly appearance. style.

Lawrence noticed that he used a pocket watch instead of a wristwatch, and his pocket watch should be Patek's Henry Graves, a pocket watch with a legendary story. There are many elements in this story. The most talked about is that it has 900 pieces. Parts, weighing half a kilogram, can accurately time 200 years.

This pocket watch alone is worth more than 100 million yuan.

Lawrence looked at Mr. Luc Villiers with more kind and gentle eyes.

Probably because he noticed that Lawrence looked at his pocket watch differently, Mr. Luke said with a smile: "An old friend gave it to me, and it is very commemorative. Of course, in today's young age, it is no longer It's trending."

"If a Patek watch is the dream of adult men, then Henry Graves is the last romance of gentlemen." Lawrence said with a smile, "Using the most complicated structure and parts to ensure that it can keep accurate time for 200 years, in 1920 What a magical craft the year is, but now even a simple electronic watch can do this."

"To the romance of men." Mr. Luke raised his glass.

Lawrence raises his glass.

"I hope to buy GAO's "Redemption", but even if we want to raise 400 million US dollars in a short period of time, it is not an easy task." Mr. Lu Ke said, "What makes people even more puzzled is that this invitation is not an easy task. All participants are open, so when we push the four works of GAO to a transaction price of 400 million US dollars, it also means that we have to start a new round of value competition, which is too unfair to us.”

"Sorry, we didn't think about fairness," Lawrence said. "Actually, the GAO thought it was an impossible price, he just thought it was... well, fun."

"So GAO doesn't want to sell "Redemption" at all, right?" Mr. Luke understood.

"That's right, as an artist, "Redemption" has a unique meaning to GAO." Lawrence smiled apologetically, "I also persuaded him, but GAO is not someone who can listen to suggestions, the reason why he agreed to this bet Just because it was fun, he didn't think about fairness."

"Yes, artist." Mr. Luke fell into a state of thought, and said slowly after a while: "It seems that you don't understand the true value of this painting, otherwise you will understand that no matter what GAO puts forward The price tag will be accepted."

Oh... Lawrence was a little surprised.

...

the next day.

Lawrence came to Gao Fan's studio and found Gao Fan who was still working on the protection of the Red Mansions.

"Little brother, is there anything I don't know about the painting "Redemption"? Recently, the enthusiasm for it in the market has exceeded imagination. Many people who are not collectors have started to contact me, and it seems that they are all for it. here."

"Is there anything you don't know..." Gao Fan stood up and thought for a while, "What aspect?"

"Just who's going to buy it, and how much will it sell for?" Lawrence asked.

"It can be sold for a lot of money, perhaps hundreds of millions of dollars." Gao Fan bent down again to stroke the painting.

"Why?" Lawrence was surprised.

"Because... someone needs it." Gao Fan said, "I originally wanted to keep it for myself, but after thinking about it, it would be good to sell it to those who need it most."

Chapter Two~