Van Gogh Reborn!-Chapter 218:

218

Between Art and Art (3)

Damian Carter stared into the angry eyes and thought.

Hes trying to make me useless.

Henri Marso was determined to make the patrons lose their interest in supporting him.

It was an unimaginable way for Damian Carter, who had been loyal to his patrons and meticulous in his self-management.

How did he become famous?

How did he raise the prices of his works? No one could prove it, so he felt like he had been hit in the back of his head.

He thought he was a naive young master.

Damian Carter had to admit that he had misjudged him.

I didnt expect him to come out like this.

He couldnt destroy the tower he had built for a long time in an instant.

Damian Carter blamed Henri Marso in a calm voice.

You really like competition. Is it your artistic view to surpass and defeat others?

Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.

Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Which one is the better artist? He pointed out that it was a childish question.

I hope you make works that satisfy yourself, rather than hoping to be better than others and receive more love.

You keep avoiding the question. Are you afraid?

Henri Marso smirked.

You like competition? Im sick of your pretentious behavior. Im telling you to prove it. Youre not satisfied with your work? Me, Henri Marso?

Henri Marso hated the likes of Damian Carter.

He avoided the unfavorable facts and deliberately distorted the trivial matters.

At the same time, he planted false impressions with plausible words, making the other doubt himself.

Youve been living on that gaslighting until now, but youve picked the wrong opponent. You old man.

Henri Marso looked around and said.

Dont you want to see? Henri Marso vs Damian Carter. A fair competition with no penalty.

Henri Marso had a keen insight into the nature of the media.

They were bound to cover the issues that were hot, and the conflict between the two artists, who could be called the best of this era, was a perfect bait.

Even the more friendly reporters who supported Damian Carter were watching the situation.

It was a pain in the neck.

Damian Carter couldnt respond easily.

He scoffed at the ultimatum that Henri Marso offered, but he couldnt shake off the feeling of being cornered as the choices repeated.

Not only the reporters, but also the audience, who initially found Henri Marso strange, began to show signs of expecting the competition between the two artists.

He wants to end this.

Henri Marso wanted to prove that Damian Carters reputation was a hollow lie.

If he lost miserably, the patrons would no longer trust Damian Carter, and he would lose the favorable eyes that had been looking at him with the thought of Damian Carters work must have some intention.

Damian Carter chuckled.

He didnt want to back down with a wounded pride, but the cost-benefit analysis didnt work.

Damian Carter, as always, opened his mouth calmly.

I see why youre so angry. You seem to have misunderstood, but its not a fight, so why dont you calm down and talk?

It was a lowly act to follow the emotions and go hard.

Damian Carter knew well that he had to show a generous attitude as an elder to have someone defend him.

The more Henri Marso showed his rude behavior, the more he would be criticized.

Werent you all surprised?

Damian Carter smiled softly and offered his seat.

Most of the attendees at the awards ceremony thought that Henri Marso was picking a fight for no reason.

The reporters were silent at the interest that Henri Marso threw, but they didnt support him or stand up for him.

In a situation where many people viewed Henri Marsos violent speech negatively, they wouldnt dare to confront Damian Carter, who was a gentleman and a master of the British art world.

Its over.

Damian Carter was confident that his image would improve even more with todays commotion, and he thanked the young French artist.

Its not a misunderstanding.

A sharp voice intervened.

The attention that had been focused on Henri Marso and Damian Carter shifted to a boy.

It was Ko Hun.

Mr. Damian Carter keeps saying that Marceau is misunderstanding, but I was also offended as a participant of the Art Nouveau competition.

The audience was confused.

They were all afraid of getting hurt by joining the fight between the two giants.

Damien Carter was shocked by what he heard. He had been confident that Goseul, his old friend, was on his side.

Ko Hun?

It doesnt matter if you did it out of consideration for the other contestants.

Ko Hun looked at his grandfather.

Goseul nodded at his pleading gaze, holding his breath.

I spent months preparing to break free from the image of a young Van Gogh. Some people wanted to succeed. Others needed it for their livelihood. Why did you have to participate in the special exhibition when you had already secured the Salon prize?

Kid.

Ko Hun didnt retort to Henri Marso. He just stared at Damien Carter.

I see. You must be upset.

The British master nodded as if he understood.

But it was a big challenge for me too. Im just sorry I couldnt prove it.

Really?

Of course.

Then why do you keep talking as if Marceau is young?

Ko Hun didnt raise his voice or speak loudly.

You dont get it, do you?

If you were sincere about the Art Nouveau contest, you would know how much it hurt the person who was wronged by it.

I did my best. It was really important to me. But it turned out to be nothing to you. Wouldnt you think that?

Ko Hun looked around.

Wasnt the SNBA Salon special exhibition for those who werent invited? The Art Nouveau contest was a chance to compete fairly and earn it.

Ko Hun remembered clearly what Henri Marso had said when he first announced his participation in the Art Nouveau contest.

What will the others become if you go and win?

He realized the meaning of those words as he participated in the Art Nouveau contest.

He saw how passionate the people who were not recognized like him were, and he realized how precious that place was.

He was also desperate.

He could empathize with the other contestants.

Ill believe you when you say you wanted the place that was given to those who werent invited to the Salon. You must have had your own reasons, Mr. Carter. But if you were that eager, you should understand why Marceau is angry. You should apologize, not appease him. Not only to Marceau, but also to me. And to all the Art Nouveau contestants.

As Ko Hun finished speaking, the award ceremony hall became silent.

The young boy didnt deny Damien Carters sincerity, nor did he utter any harsh words.

If Damien Carter had a reason to participate in the Art Nouveau contest even though he had already confirmed his participation in the SNBA Salon.

If he was sincere about it.

He asked if he understood how much his action could hurt others.

Damien Carter opened his heavy mouth after thinking for a while.

I was short-sighted. Im sorry.

He had no other choice.

If the argument continued, he would likely undermine his own logic.

It would only worsen the situation.

He got me.

It was time to back off.

Im sorry, Marceau.

Damien Carter apologized to Henri Marso.

Who asked you to apologize?

Hes hot-headed.

I was like that when I was young, but that guy doesnt know how to moderate.

Take responsibility. Do you think Im doing this to get an apology?

But when I listen to him, hes right.

If it was something that could be solved with an apology, he wouldnt have acted like that in the first place.

I also intervened because Marceau seemed disadvantaged, but Im not very happy to receive an apology.

It was an inevitable action in the situation, but I cant be sure of Damien Carters true intentions.

What should I do?

Lets do it the same way here in a month.

If its the same as the Art Nouveau contest, he must mean the audience vote.

If you want it that much, go ahead. Itll be a fun time.

Contrary to expectations, Damien Carter didnt back down either.

From the impression I got from him so far, he probably had some calculations in mind.

Whatever. Itll be fun.

Henri Marso laughed like a villain, and Blanche Fabre, who was next to him, muttered that he was cool.

I dont know if she likes or hates Marceau.

By the same way, do you mean the vote?

Wouldnt it be unfair if it was held in France! What do you think!

The award ceremony, which had been quiet as a mouse, suddenly became noisy.

Reporters bombarded Henri Marso and Damien Carter with questions, and they took advantage of the chaos to get off the stage.

Before I went back to my grandfather, I remembered a promise I made with Blanche and looked around. She was right behind me.

We agreed to exchange our sketchbooks.

Yeah. Wait a minute.

Blanche went somewhere and came back with a bag. She took out a fairly thick notebook and showed it to me.

It said Fabres Insect Diary on the cover.

Can I look?

Sure.

I opened it and saw that it was a sketchbook of insects.

Unlike me, who recorded everything I saw, she had organized them into categories such as grasshoppers, beetles, dragonflies, earwigs, mantises, and so on.

It was clear that she had treated them with care.

Thats amazing.

Isnt it?

She lifted her head and smiled.

Do you carry it around?

No.

She tilted her head and answered calmly.

I knew I would see you today.

I wondered how to contact her since I didnt have her number, but then I realized that it made sense.

She would come to receive the special exhibition award, so I should have prepared something in advance. I regretted it.

Sorry. I didnt think of that.

Its okay.

She didnt change her expression, but she seemed a bit disappointed.

I took out my smartphone.

Give me your number. And your email address.

She narrowed her eyes and turned her head slightly. She looked definitely disappointed.

Sorry. I was out of touch. I stayed at Marsos house all the time.

Why?

My grandfather was busy, so I had nowhere else to stay.

That must have been nice.

It wasnt nice at all.

Not at all?

Mostly.

The conversation stopped awkwardly.

So, whats your number?

I asked again, and her expression worsened.

Why are you asking for my personal information?

I was speechless for a moment. She had a point.

But we have a promise, so Ill tell you.

She took my smartphone and typed her number.

I go to school and work from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., so I dont want you to contact me for personal reasons. You can call me at lunchtime, but I wont answer when Im eating.

When cant I contact you?

Uh When Im sleeping?

When do you sleep?

It varies.

How?

Both Marso and she were strangely regular.

I tried to live by some rules, but I didnt think I had to be so strict.

Get out of here!

Marsos voice echoed from afar.

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