The Versatile Master Artist-Chapter 45 - 32: Childishness

Participation in exhibitions

is an inevitable path for every painter.

A painter, at least a relatively successful one, cannot escape the market and the recognition of others.

A Van Gogh-like life cannot be called happy.

When you ask those who knew Van Gogh to evaluate him during his life, it’s difficult for them to connect that eccentric, down-and-out painter with the great artist.

Of course, true masters might not actually care about this.

But if we measure by the world view of ordinary people, achieving fame and success and being adored by thousands is every person’s life expectation.

Even if you don’t equate art with market price in a vulgar way.

The sense of gain and satisfaction from being recognized and appreciated by others cannot be replaced by luxury cars and beautiful women.

The Biennale is one such art form where painters can gain fame.

As the name implies, "biennial" (every two years), an art biennial is an art exhibition held every two years.

Internationally, many biennials are organized by cities or even countries, heavily funded and regularly held.

They are grand events in the art world as well as important activities that enhance the national image and city status, akin to the Olympics or the F1 Grand Prix, serving as an artistic calling card for the city to the outside world.

Regardless of winning or not, for a painter, participating in any category of an international art biennial is a milestone in their life worth remembering forever.

A crucial hard criterion in evaluating whether a painter’s work is valuable is whether it has been exhibited.

Art exhibitions can be divided into solo exhibitions for individual painters and theme unit exhibitions open to everyone.

The biennial art exhibition is the most impressive of the latter.

Participating in a proper international biennial is far better than holding a small solo exhibition in an obscure place.

Almost all contemporary well-known painters worth billions have had experiences of winning awards at various biennials. As long as you can participate in a well-known biennial, your painting has a certain collection value. This criterion is universally applicable across five continents.

The Singapore Biennale,

although it doesn’t compare to the centuries-old exhibitions in Europe, has become a very important exhibition in Asia in recent years.

It is as famous as Japan’s Yokohama Triennale and the Biennale in Shanghai, and award-winning works often include masterpieces selling for several million US dollars.

Each art biennial is curated by a special curator and has a specific theme, and the exhibition is divided into two categories: "Master (Professional) Group" and "Amateur Group," each with first, second, and third prizes.

The Amateur Group is called so, but it is not aimed at works by ordinary amateur painting enthusiasts.

It is not amateurish at all; on the contrary, the difficulty of participation is daunting.

The Amateur Group is sometimes called the Student Group or the Young Artist Group.

Those who participate in this group are typically outstanding students from major art academies and excellent young artists under the age of 28.

During school days, only the most outstanding art students have the opportunity to participate in the Amateur Group.

Schools like Qingmei and the Central Academy of Fine Arts, which have many international cooperation opportunities, are allocated no more than one or two spots in the Singapore Biennale.

Elder Cao refers to Gu Weijing as a teenage genius, but every young painter who can participate in the Student Group is a teenage genius.

It’s like the imperial examination in ancient times. Winning as a Scholar or Child Scholar already makes one a famous prodigy for miles around, but wanting to become an official or participate in exhibitions requires passing successive exams... encountering opponents who are either geniuses or even more talented.

The 57-year-old late-blooming famous painter Olga Aiticica, a signed artist with the French gallery Art of Painting, sold a work last year for 6.9 million US dollars.

Even such a painter failed in the campus selection during her junior year at the Lyon International Art Academy, missing the opportunity to participate in the Student Group of the Paris Biennale, a regret she carried even after achieving fame and success.

The largest deal the Gu Family has made in the past few years at their bookstore and gallery on the Yangon Riverfront was a painting from the Student Group of the (Fa) Bruster Biennale.

The theme of that exhibition was [Drama], whose scale and fame were far less than the Singapore Biennale, considered the smallest in influence among biennials.

The oil painting "Joker," inspired by the Gotham Joker actor Heath Ledger, eventually sold for 22,700 US dollars, which was already a super big business for their small gallery.

Professor Lin Tao believes that given Gu Weijing’s age and skill level, if he polishes his craft well, he might have the opportunity to produce a work qualifying for an exhibition as prestigious as the Lion City Art Exhibition by his junior or senior year.

If he luckily secured a second or third prize in the Amateur Group, it would even bring glory to him as a teacher.

As for the much more challenging Master Group, that’s already the domain of professional painters.

"Oh, let’s just forget about it."

Lin Tao shook his head.

A seventeen-year-old painter winning in the Master Group, or even participating in one, would be as shocking a feat as Elder Cao accepting his last disciple.

Only a master like Elder Cao, who grows more childlike as he ages, would say such a thing.

To expect Gu Weijing, a young child, to participate in the Lion City Art Exhibition and win an award would be an outrageous claim that would make people laugh their teeth off.

Professor Lin Tao was somewhat worried that the teacher might give Gu Weijing unrealistic fantasies and hopes, only to later shatter them with an unattainable demand.

This approach might damage Gu Weijing’s confidence and spirit in his painting path.

He turned and comforted Gu Weijing gently.

"Xiaogu, Elder Cao is trying to motivate you. When the time comes, just come to my studio with a calm and practical mindset. Don’t think too much. Although I’m no match for the teacher, I still have a reputable name. Ordinary rich kids would be willing to spend hundreds of thousands for a bit of my guidance, and I still wouldn’t agree!"

"Oh?"

Lin Tao noticed.

Gu Weijing wasn’t discouraged by Elder Cao’s seemingly impossible demand of reaching for the moon in the sky.

He looked at Elder Cao, seemingly contemplating something.

Singapore Art Exhibition... Singapore Art Exhibition...

To participate in an international art biennial, his current level is definitely insufficient; he must achieve a standard above professional, and not only in sketching, which needs to reach Level 4.

Chinese painting and even oil painting need to reach Level 4 professional standard.

"No, to win, maybe even Lv.4 isn’t enough; a higher level would be required."

Moreover, inspiration and knowledge aligned with the art exhibition theme are indispensable.

Considering the latest exhibition registration time, he only had a few months to prepare.

It’s difficult, but with the help of the painting panel, it’s not necessarily impossible.

At this moment, Gu Weijing was not discouraged.

After witnessing Elder Cao’s extraordinary skills, not only did he hope to follow him and learn painting, but he also felt an impulse to compete with real masters in the outside world.

"How about it, Young Gu, do you have confidence?"

Elder Cao, seeing Gu Weijing deep in thought, asked with interest.

"I don’t know about confidence, but I want to give it a try."

Gu Weijing raised his head, his eyes shining brightly.

"Great, the young man I’ve got my eye on should have such enthusiasm and ambition to challenge the heights."

Elder Cao laughed heartily, reaching out his hand: "Gu Weijing, I await the day you bow to me as your master. Let’s shake on it."

"Let’s shake on it."

Under the sunlight,

an old and a young hand clap together, making a crisp sound.

Lin Tao saw this scene and felt a bit helpless.

"Such childishness."