The room was silent.
Only the old lady gently tore open a package of small pieces of beech wood wrapped in plastic from Walmart, and threw them piece by piece into the burning stove with tongs.
She is the servant who guards this old house.
Lao Yang really likes her skills in baking bacon and baking small cakes. Grandma always adds a lot of oil and sugar, which is unhealthy but delicious. The only drawback is that the other party can only speak with a strong Hungarian accent. of German.
I don’t speak English fluently, let alone Chinese.
It is not convenient to communicate.
Looking back now, Lao Yang thinks this is really a very lucky thing.
The other party must not understand the content of the conversation between Tang Ning and Cao Xuan.
At least in this way, he won’t have to worry about reading the sensational headlines like “Shocking breakdown of master-disciple relationship, taking stock of several ups and downs in the wealthy art family” in the Moon News next morning, which gossips love to hear.
Even so.
Out of professional sensitivity, Lao Yang still wanted to go over and ask the old mama to leave temporarily just in case.
He hasn't moved yet.
The old grandma had finished adding firewood, opened the window a small crack, and left the living room quietly without saying hello to anyone.
Looking at the other person, he seemed to have a calm attitude towards the atmosphere in the entire living room that seemed to be frozen.
Lao Yang suddenly felt it again.
Perhaps the old servants employed by this legendary painter's family have long been accustomed to similar things.
The other party didn’t understand a word, but he understood everything.
"Everyone in a wealthy family has a hard-to-recite scripture."
Old Yang put his hands in his hands and looked at Tang Ning, whose face was dim and obscured by the firelight of the fireplace. Curious about how the other person is feeling at this moment.
Under the firelight of the fireplace, Tang Ning's face was dark, filled with incomprehensible shock and confusion.
It took her half a minute to realize.
The teacher is not joking.
Since Tangning came to Austria, all the developments have made her confused about the world.
The sun has a long way to go, it doesn’t matter if you act in the opposite direction, or you are confused, or you do something wrong.
They were all Tang Ning’s words of “admonishment” out of anger and urgency.
She wanted to express to the teacher that she, a student, would not give in on this matter.
But now.
Tang Ning began to really worry that Mr. Cao had a cognitive problem and could no longer distinguish between good and bad and right from wrong.
Otherwise, how could the old man say such outrageous things.
She is Tangning.
She won the gold medal at the International Biennale at the age of twenty, and started work on the banks of the Huangpu River at the age of twenty-six. The newspaper said that her paintings were "astonishingly visible", and senior painters called her "the neatness of her brushwork." , the laws are in order. "It has become famous. At the age of thirty-two, I participated in the Venice Biennale and almost became the next Eastern Xia artist to hold the Golden Lion Award trophy after Hou Hsiao-hsien, Zhang Yimou, and Cai Guo-Qiang.
Although she missed out on both the Gold and Silver Lion awards, she appeared on the annual cover of Oil Painting Magazine with her teacher in the same year, and even Damien Hirst, who was in the market, was squeezed into the second issue. < /p>
As of this year.
Her net worth has already exceeded 10 million US dollars.
Not to mention the top three female artists who have left their names in the history of human painting. , top five. Tang Ning is confident that it will not be difficult for her to be ranked in the list after all.
This is why she dares to speak out in front of her teacher, and she is the most suitable successor. There will be other people who have the confidence.
How talented is Gu Weijing?
Of course Tangning believes in the power of genius. She herself is one of the rare geniuses. Because of this, She knows that no matter how good the talent is, it takes time and experience to develop.
Especially for Chinese painting, the older you get, the better.
Of course, there is Wang Ximeng. Among the ancient wonders who became famous in Beijing at the age of 18, such as Zhang Daqian, Qi Baishi, Xu Beihong, Huang Binhong, Zhao Wuji and her teacher, none of them completed their work until they were in their thirties or forties, or even in their sixties. What about the feat of returning to one’s original nature and becoming a Taoist?
“Teacher, you are really sorry, I hope this is a joke. "Tang Ning looked complicated.
"What if I really think so. "
Cao Xuan didn't seem to read the regret in Tangning's tone, and continued to ask with a smile.
"If this is not a joke, then you are really old. I am so old that I am no longer suitable for painting, and my judgment has declined so much that I feel sad.
Tang Ning stood up, walked over and stroked the white hair on the head of old Cao Xuan, and said softly, "Teacher, at the end of this semester, you should resign from your teaching position in Hamburg and move to London." Go live with me. In the past few years, I want to spend more time with you. ”
“It’s quite filial. "
Mr. Cao nodded.
"Monet, including Mr. Huang Binhong, suffered from eye disease in his later years and it was extremely difficult to see, but he still used magnificent brushwork and struggled to explore the scroll. You, teacher, and I cannot match the perseverance and courage of these seniors, but I think I am older, but my eyesight has not faded yet. The old man shook his head again, "It's not yet necessary for you disciples to take care of me and enjoy my old age. Just wait a little longer." "
Mr. Cao turned his head and looked at Tang Ning.
Tang Ning stared at him in confusion.
"Do you know why I don't see you? Not quiet enough. "Cao Xuan stretched out his fingers and tapped twice on the coffee table in front of him.
"If you are not calm, even if we meet, you probably won't listen to my words. It is better to write a letter to calm your mind and read it word by word, which may be more effective. ”
“Actually, I have alwaysThey are all waiting to ask about Gu Weijing. "
Tang Ning frowned.
"Do you know why I am disappointed in you?"
Mr. Cao looked at the woman calmly.
Tang Ning's heart sank for no reason.
She didn't understand what the teacher meant.
But she would rather the teacher took the palette angrily like he did to other senior brothers and sisters. Throw her away and hit her with a cane, but I don't want the old man to talk quietly and calmly.
There are no tears in great sadness, no words in great enlightenment, and no sound in laughter.
The old man looked so calm.
Tang Ning suddenly felt that she might have really disappointed the teacher this time.
"When you were a child, you brothers and sisters. There is a small seminar held every weekend in my study. I can talk about ancient Chinese prose and the gains and losses of various literati in calligraphy, painting, and poetry, speaking freely and without any hesitation. "
"The teacher said that there is great character among them, and there is also great style. "
Tang Ning nodded.
"I still remember the first weekend when you became a disciple. That week I happened to talk about Shi Shuo Xin Yu Rong Zhi about celebrities. During this article, we talked about the great writer Yuan Haowen of the Jin Dynasty. When he commented on Pan Yue's articles of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, he left a very famous conclusion throughout the ages. Gao Qing lived idlely for eternity, and strived to trust An Ren and pay homage to Lu Chen. ”
Pan Yue, whose courtesy name is Anren, is also the protagonist "Pan An" who is more beautiful than Pan An.
He was a celebrity famous for his talents in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The most famous handsome man in history, but Yuan Haowen didn't think highly of him.
"I said, the meaning of this poem is that people are not seen through paintings at all. Accurately, the articles written cannot represent a person's true temperament and character. A person like Pan An, who could write such an indifferent and clear-minded work as "Xianju Fu", could actually do such a shameless thing by bowing to the dust splashed by the carriage of a high-ranking official passing by in order to seek an official position. "
Cao Xuan crossed his fingers and leaned on the sofa, his voice slightly hoarse.
"My original intention at that time was to tell you that the evaluation of the artist's personal character should be based on the artistic evaluation. There are different levels of attainment. People should not ignore paintings, nor should they blindly rely on paintings to judge people. These are common problems encountered when making art reviews. For example, scholars from the Ming and Qing dynasties stubbornly claimed that because Li Qingzhao could write such noble poems, she must not be able to reconcile with her husband and divorce her. virtuous behavior. These jokes that make future generations laugh out loud are all made in this way. "
" Zi Ming, Xiao Ming and the others all nodded in agreement, but you were the only one who kept shaking your head. "
Cao Xuan smiled, "I was very surprised at the time. I asked you why you shook your head. Every word of your answer at that time is still fresh in my mind when I think about it now. "
Tang Ning also laughed.
"I said, Yuan Haowen is talking nonsense.I must not have read Xianju Fu properly at all, I just made up a random rhyming allusion. "
She recalled how stubborn she was at that time, with a look full of emotion.
"From the beginning to the end of Xianju Fu, every sentence seems to be shouting, I can't do it. I can’t be an official anymore, I can’t be an official anymore, ah ah ah, I can’t be an official anymore. People who can make such noises and clamor that they can’t be an official must still be unwilling to accept the official career deep down in their hearts. , Pan Yue and Li Bai are somewhat similar in this regard. People who really don't want to be an official should write poems in a light and peaceful way like Tao Yuanming. Seeing people through paintings and seeing people through words are never bad. "
"Xiao Ning, you don't know how surprised I was that day. It’s this energy, this keenness and courage to talk nonsense about Yuan Haowen. ”
Mr. Cao took a deep breath.
“That day, with your eyes wide open, you loudly said that you can see people by painting and you can see people by words. You are never bad at that. moment. I really feel that I have found the most suitable successor. I want to leave you everything I have. "
"Teacher, I"
Tang Ning was a little moved.
"Among you, your path is the smoothest. Only when Zhou Ming was thirty years old did I allow her to sign with her first gallery. I rejected Lin Tao's chance to sign with Gagosian. I think the saying that calligraphy and painting hate life is not necessarily true, but when you are young, stressing and enduring hardships is actually good for your career. Only Xiao Ning, I have never stopped you from having what you want. You have a lively personality and like scenery, so you won the gold medal at the age of twenty. I even ordered a sports car directly from the UK for you. "
"At that time, many people thought that I doted on you too much. I am the only one who thinks otherwise. There are some scenery and pleasures that we should experience when we are young. Why aren't horse-drawn carriages a part of the traditional celebrity style? When I was young, I once rode a Jewish executive's open-top Rolls-Royce and drove by the Huangpu River. I believe you will not be dazzled by this feeling, because you are a very real person, like a sword, you will never be bound by these trivial things, and your original intention to pursue art will not change. Things will only sharpen you, and that's enough. "
Cao Xuan inhaled deeply and exhaled deeply.
"Xiao Ning, you have never been a queen since you were a child. I want to take on another apprentice. I expected you to be dissatisfied. Including your interview, I can tolerate it because I am waiting for you to ask a question, which I thought you would definitely ask. "
"Unfortunately, I have been giving you time, and I have been trying to get you to be quiet, but until you walked into this room today and I sat down on the sofa, I still didn't listen. Until you ask me”
“How is Gu Weijing’s painting? What are the highlights of his painting techniques? Why do I never forget it? I said there is tranquility in his works, but how can I see it?"
Cao Xuan turned his head and stared at his disciple.
"Ten or soWhen I was young, you said loudly to me that you can see people through paintings and words, which are never bad. ”
“When you are forty years old, whether it is in compliance with the rules, whether it is reasonable, how you want outsiders to see it, how you want the media to see it, the exchange of favors, the gains and losses of interests, you have said everything you should say, and what you should say. All the complaints have been made, Xiao Ning, the only thing you haven’t asked me about, and the thing I’m most looking forward to sharing with you, is about Gu Weijing’s works. You didn't even want to look at the painting Gu Weijing gave me. ”
“As a painter, you can love money and want to be successful. These are all good. But after all, this is not the goal we were striving for when we first set out on this path. ”
“I want to know where is the Xiao Ning that I once looked forward to, the Xiao Ning who was enough to entrust her with big responsibilities and expected her to ascend step by step on the road of art.”
Tang Ning opened her mouth and looked at her teacher blankly.
She wanted to speak and defend herself.
But she didn't say a word. Come out.
The teacher's calm words were like sharp whips hitting her body.
Tang Ning once thought she had grown up, but suddenly, she changed again. She became the little girl in the studio, listening to the teacher's teachings.
Honestly speaking, Tang Ning felt a little wronged.
She had seen Gu Weijing's works. Lin Tao once shared the painting that the young man prepared to participate in the Singapore Biennale to the WeChat group.
It’s not bad, it’s better than many others. She must be far behind, referring to the eighteen-year-old herself.
Comparing the current Tang Ning to Gu Weijing is not bullying Gu Weijing, but it is too humiliating.
Tang Ning was very disapproving at the time
It was not a problem to bluff Lao Yang at this level. From the perspective of Cao Lao and others, this level was probably the same as that of Lin Tao, who had no famous teacher back then. It's almost the same time.
For them, it's a bit difficult to even call him a genius.
Is there any need to see the works of a painter of this level? < /p>
“Bring him his wisteria picture. ”
Cao Xuan lightly slapped his hand and told Lao Yang.
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