"If you want to send a painting to please me, it depends on whether I accept it or not."

Cao Lao was silent for a moment, and asked softly, "Then Gu boy, don't you know the rules I set before?" ”

Cao Xuan likes to collect calligraphy, painting and art.

Nonsense.

A wealthy painter who really loves art to the bone, who has not been a part-time half-collector throughout the ages?

When he was young, he played with the strange stones of Taihu Lake, collected Ye Zhongsan's inner painting snuff bottle, Shao Daheng's purple sand smelling cup, and when he was young in Shanghai, he also liked to collect Montblanc platinum fountain pens and all kinds of popular alabaster illustration packaging.

These bits and pieces are just leisure and pleasure to relieve boredom.

The richest, most serious and most important collection in Old Man Cao's house is, of course, the paintings.

The old man likes to appreciate and appreciate paintings.

Knowing the goods is also willing to spend money.

He collects works of art, not looking at the fame of the painter or the price, but only whether it is right or not for the old man's appetite.

Truly the most authentic traditional collector, never just looking at the edge.

When you meet your favorite, a few strokes of an anonymous person can also throw ten thousand taels of gold.

When encountering something that doesn't look right, even if they are given away by famous calligraphy and paintings with a market price of thousands of gold, they also feel that it is tacky and bad to put it at home.

Literary play, literary play, playing is the "literary" atmosphere in the painting.

If it is blindly turned into a move to compete for wealth in the auction hall where ash is used as firewood and silk is paved.

Instead, it fell inferiorly.

Therefore, in Mr. Cao's collection list, there are not only Henri Matisse's beautiful pictures, Picasso's "Smoking Woman", but also some works that do not seem to be so "worthy" to collect.

Since becoming an assistant, Lao Yang has seen it with his own eyes.

There are always two ink paintings in Cao Lao's studio.

One is the landscape painting "Autumn Light and Water Color" by Huang Binhong, a master of Chinese painting, that Cao Xuan spent 126 million yuan in Hanhai in 2007, and the other is a "Flying Frost Grass and Trees" that he bought by chance from an eighty-six-year-old Taoist chief when he was collecting wind in Bashu Fairy Mountain in 1941.

Not counting the framing, it cost a total of thirteen dollars and seven cents and five cents.

The works with a price difference of 10 million times between the two paintings, in the old man's studio, have been neighbors for more than ten years, but they are Cao Xuan's favorites.

The grandmaster of Chinese painting with brilliant brushwork and the nameless Taoist priest with a breezy breeze live next to each other, which can be regarded as a kind of wonder.

If there is something good at the top, it will be offered at the bottom.

Cao Xuan loves art collecting.

Whether it is an artist friend in the literary circle, a variety of big gallery agents, or wealthy businessmen who want to build a relationship, they all like to paint and buy some calligraphy and painting works for the old gentleman to taste during the New Year's holidays.

Since ancient times, calligraphy and painting are like beauties.

Cao Lao said that if the painting is taken back and hidden in the box to be gray and moldy, even if it is a good art storage box, it will inevitably have the inhuman feeling of "the red face is broken before the old age, and the pearl is covered with dust and sad".

He never accepts the paintings he paints casually, and only accepts what he likes.

If you paint utilitarian works, look at uncomfortable works, pinch your nose and take them home.

Pose out that he is sad, throw away the other party sad.

Rather than not posing it out and throwing it in a box, never unfolding it again to look at it, doing this kind of hypocritical superficial article.

It's better to just do it, don't ask for it at the beginning, it's a kind of respect for everyone.

The mansion of the great artist is the high-gate compound of the literary and artistic world, the princely mansion.

A piece of calligraphy and painting works are like the "show girl" selected in the countryside, who can enter Cao Lao's collection catalog, if it is the work of a living painter, it represents Cao Xuan's recognition of him, and his face is bright. If the calligraphy and painting of the late modern master can be collected by him Cao Xuan, and then stamped with his own seal or even the word, this kind of inheritance story is also a kind of value-added.

In the word-of-mouth joke, the value of a photo taken by a certain painter with Larry Gagosian will rise.

And if it is photographed by the media, whose works can be so praised by Cao Xuan, and put it in the living room study to play with every day, the market price will definitely increase a lot.

That is, the old Taoist of Fairy Mountain has been dead for almost a year, and he can't verify his name and origin.

It is not even known whether there are any other paintings that have survived to the world.

Otherwise, Old Man Cao loves him like Huang Binhong, and an anecdote about a painting hanging by his side will be circulated.

With this kind of favor, the value can really be exaggerated compared to Huang Binhong.

Not to mention more, it has multiplied 100,000 times, and there is really a drama.

The art market hype likes to fry all kinds of concepts.

If you can't afford to buy the paintings of the big artists themselves, it is also a very worthwhile investment to buy the works of the little painters who like to be optimistic about the price of the little painters who are not so "scary".

Cao Xuan knows that he is a fragrant bait, and if others give him paintings, he will also appreciate in value.

After he became famous, he set a rule for himself - "don't buy three, don't collect five".

The so-called three do not buy.

When he buys art himself, he doesn't buy it from the grandstanders, the inexplicable, and the lost cultural relics.

The remaining five are not collected.

It refers to the paintings that others send him to appreciate and collect.

Those who are kitsch will not be accepted, those who are pretentious will not be accepted, those who are outdated in artistic conception will not be accepted, those who are dull will not be accepted, and those who do not fit the eye will not be accepted.

Any of Cao Lao's private collections is the product of the selection of these principles.

There is a lot of writing behind each one.

Most of the sensational artworks are the products of hype such as many NFTs and star cards, and it is difficult to say whether there is investment value, but there is certainly very little aesthetic value.

The inexplicable artwork is aimed at the paintings of the modern avant-garde.

Cao Lao's evaluation of the entire school of avant-garde is mixed, and the reputation is mixed.

He also likes some graffiti paintings.

But if the old man studies a painting for a long time, he finds that he can't understand it at all.

No matter how fanciful the propaganda is, how many profound and profound truths can be interpreted, he will not be interested in touching it.

Maybe this painting is very good, but it doesn't suit him anyway, so it's better to treat him as uneducated.

In the end, the lost cultural relics from overseas were not bought, because Cao Xuan was a little cautious in this regard.

Don't get me wrong.

He still admires the patriotic businessmen who rescued and brought back the lost cultural relics overseas.

It's just the old man himself.

The robbers burst into the house, bullied the original owner's house, and took the family heirloom away. After a few decades and a hundred years, after being angry and strong, the original owner paid a sum of real money and bought back what belonged to them at a large price, and the descendants of the robbers took the money to spend all the time.

Earn two benefits before and after.

There should be no such reason in the world.

Not only the lost artifacts of the Eastern Xia, but also the painted mummy sarcophagi of ancient Egypt, and the stele of the king of ancient Syria, such things have always been in high demand at auction.

Egypt's Department of Antiquities Recovery has been arguing with the British Foreign Office for more than 30 years over this kind of thing.

Something like that.

No matter how much he likes it, no matter how much he wants it, no matter how good the price seems to be, the old gentleman will not raise a card to buy it.

The five in the back are not accepted, and they are more aimed at Gu Weijing, whether it is to please or to gild themselves, or simply to welcome and send them, and they want to give them to the insiders in the calligraphy and painting circle of the old man Cao Xuan.

The penmanship is kitsch, pretentious, the artistic conception is stale, and the twilight is gloomy - these sixteen words can basically expel all those who want to rely on Cao Lao to raise their own calligraphy and painting worth, and have ghosts in their hearts.

The rest of the "misfitting" is left blank.

After all, it's a gift to the door.

When Cao Xuan returned other people's works and did not accept them, both sides had a step to go down.

It's not necessarily that your painting is not vulgar, maybe it's just because it doesn't fit his "eye".

However, the idea is good.

The reality is that in today's Oriental art market, there is any difference between hearing that a certain painter is not in line with Cao Xuan's eyes and that this person's work is not tacky, is there any difference in the hearts of collectors......

This is not something that Cao Lao can control.

Originally.

When he made this rule, he was quite offended, and the paintings that were beaten into the cold palace by Cao Lao were not only the younger generations who wanted to be famous.

As long as the old gentleman thinks it's not good, even the first and second-tier painters will refuse to make mistakes.

That's because of that.

The old man made many bosses and officials who wanted to be vassals and elegant feel faceless, and he once had a very stiff relationship with a certain great painter who was at the top of the Hurun Artist List.

Cao Xuan still goes his own way and does not change his principles.

He can fool around in other things, except in calligraphy and painting, black and white, and there is no room for any sand in his eyes.

Many years ago, at an art exhibition, he was introduced to Malaysia's Liu Lao Chuanwang.

At the banquet at the boat king's house, Liu Chuanwang, who loves art, was ready to take a painting of his own as a souvenir, you must know that such a rich and noble person appreciates the rich man who can meet and cannot be sought by every famous painter.

Cao Xuan is like a stubborn stone in Taihu Lake, no matter how persuasive others are, he will not accept it.

The old ship king asked why.

Cao Xuan had to answer that the painting didn't fit his eyes, and he didn't like it.

Liu Chuanwang's face was ugly, and he patted the table and said angrily, Lao Tzu just used the money that can buy an entire street of shops in Kuala Lumpur to buy your painting, but you didn't even give me this face in front of so many guests, I don't know what to do. It's so bad at being a human being.

Cao Lao also replied very stubbornly, buying his own paintings, it was the boat king's appreciation of the character and integrity of his works, and he was grateful for this.

But he really can't appreciate the painting of the boat king, so he doesn't accept it, this is his own principle, if he easily violates the principle, his painting is not worth a whole street in Kuala Lumpur.

Ship King, you probably don't want your investment to shrink so quickly.

The boat king himself is an art ticket holder, and has learned more than ten paintings and calligraphy from many famous teachers, and he asked the maid to fetch five painting scrolls from the study in a row, and Zhang Zhang is a work that makes him smug.

Cao Lao refused five times in a row in the increasingly gloomy face of the old ship king.

to the end.

Cao Xuan didn't even make superficial articles, and directly said that these paintings are very tacky and have no collection value.

The painter friends who came to the dinner table with green faces and sat there not knowing what to do.

The old boat king is not only a billionaire in Malaysia, but also a powerful figure in both political and business circles. slapped Liu Fuhao's face in front of him like this, he was really not afraid of being sacked and sunk into the sea.

Just when they began to worry about whether they would be able to get out of the manor safely tonight.

Liu Chuanwang didn't look angry, but asked calmly, I have consulted many artist friends over the years, and everyone said that my works have an awe-inspiring temperament and orderly brushwork.

He knew that there was water in this, and he could only listen to thirty percent at most.

But the boat king has always felt that he wants to go to art with peace of mind, and develop into the art circle since he was a child, and he doesn't dare to say anything about first- and second-tier painters, and it is still easy to be a professional painter who makes a living in a small local gallery and begs for food.

Only Ling Cao Xuan said that my work is vulgar, why is this?

Cao Lao, who was not an old man at the time, asked rhetorically, do you believe them or me.

Liu Chuanwang thought about it, nodded and said I believe you.

So Cao Lao replied, with your painting talent, it is not impossible to rely on not starving, it depends on luck.

However, these paintings are mediocre, only the inscription on one of the "Sunset Sea Breezes" is a little immature, but it has an aura when taken out alone, not cheesy, and different.

Looks like you didn't write it, right?

The old ship king was silent for a few seconds when he heard this, and suddenly laughed, threw down the full seats, stood up and walked out of the banquet hall.

After a while, he led a little boy who was less than ten years old and walked closer, bowed to Cao Lao, and then asked the little boy to kneel down and kowtow to Cao Xuan.

This incident is still regarded by Liu Ziming as one of the proudest things in his life.

So many years have been accumulating.

The high-end art circle has become accustomed to Cao Lao's "rules", and if people who are not confident enough in themselves, they rarely dare to send autographed works to Cao Lao.

Equally.

If someone's work is hung on the wall of Cao Xuan's house, even if it is the top 30 painters on the Hurun Art Rich List, it is a thing worth showing off with a long face in the circle of friends.

"Gu Weijing, I guess I don't know about this."

Lao Yang shook his head.

Cao Xuan's three don't buy and five don't collect is not a big secret.

But it is only limited to circulating in the upper circles that can have daily contact channels with Cao Lao.

After all, whoever wants to send a painting to Cao Xuan must have a chance to find him.

Gu Weijing's grandfather and grandson must have no connections to get in touch with this kind of high-class gossip and high-level anecdotes.

"What do you mean by asking me to reject him directly?"

Lao Yang secretly said in his heart, Cao Lao is indeed deep down now, and he has not regarded Gu Weijing as his personal disciple.

Cao Lao's principle is to face the outsiders who are ushered in.

Apprentices like Lin Tao and Tang Ning are a family, so they are naturally not among them.

My own apprentices, who draw poorly, have to complain that the teacher teaches badly, how can they push it out?

Lao Yang originally wanted to see the old man's attitude, whether he would accept it or not.

Of course, if Gu Weijing's works can jump out of the twelve characters and open up a different world, this problem does not exist.

Even if it is painted by a beggar on the street, Cao Lao will definitely regard it as a treasure.

If he is a truly outstanding painter and paints a good enough work, even if the purpose of others is to make a name for himself from him, Cao Lao feels that he is happy, and even this is what he should do.

However, this possibility is almost nil.

Lao Yang thought about it with his heels, and also felt that the gift works drawn by Gu Weijing in this state of mind, even if he was lucky enough to escape the four words "pretentious", "brushwork kitsch" would definitely not be able to jump out.

Cao Lao lowered his head, thinking about it and didn't speak.

Whether Gu Weijing is an outsider or not, in the face of this problem, the old gentleman is rarely hesitant in his heart.

The elevator door slides open.

Lao Yang read out the employer's hesitation, and he didn't urge it, he looked down at his mobile phone and took the initiative to divert the topic.

"Mr. Cao, wait a few minutes, I just asked the administrative office about the things outside the building, and they replied that there should be a student from the photography department last week, who wanted to shoot the campus background with the theme of the university, and wanted to take you as a part of the campus cultural environment as a mirror move, and their application has been rejected by the school, and it should be a private act outside."

HFBK's painting department is in the last ten years, and it can squeeze close to the top 10 cutting-edge subjects on various lists. In the past, the Department of Photography was the most iconic and powerful department in the school, and there were many famous directors of literary films who won awards at the Berlin and Venice Film Festivals.

The students on campus are also very formal and decent when they make movies.

"You wait here for a few minutes. I call the security office to disperse them, or I just ask the driver to drive the car to the back door. ”

Lao Yang was very annoyed by these extraneous things, and suggested.

Let the old man participate in their student movie, and then become a tool for free publicity, the idea is good, these people pay for the portrait!

"What are you doing to disperse these children, my old face is so ugly? Unfortunately, they should have informed me beforehand, and they should have known that they should have worn a more energetic wig. ”

Old Man Cao shook his head, touched the top of his head with his hand, and gently straightened the old man's thin and soft hair into a beautiful hairstyle.

"Just spoil these kids." Lao Yang shook his head helplessly.

Cao Xuan took two steps forward, stopped again, and looked at his assistant: "By the way, you go through the back door, I will walk these two steps by myself." ”

"Why?" Lao Yang was stunned.

"That's not pretty."

The old man raised his neck: "I don't want to, I look like an old man in the camera, and I have to be supported by people when I walk, I'm not that old." ”

"Okay, take it easy."

Lao Yang stopped helplessly, he naturally wouldn't go through the back door immediately, just stood in place, watching the old gentleman step by step into the sunlight outside.

"By the way, the child's drawing."

When Cao Xuan's steps happened to be at the junction of light and dark, the old gentleman stopped again and turned his head.

"You say."

"Let him send the photo first, as before, if the painting is too bad, don't blame me for not having a good face."

"Understood."

Lao Yang nodded.

If it is an outsider, this painting should not be accepted.

If it is a disciple, this painting should be accepted.

asked Gu Weijing to send the photos he painted, that is, Cao Lao wanted to see if his upset and irritated works would be so bad that they could not be eye-catching, and it was also an opportunity to "extrajudicial favor".

"Little friend, look at your creation. Since you have the courage to send paintings to Master Cao, you have to have two brushes, otherwise you have no brains and can't complain about others. A good drawing is an opportunity, and if you draw too badly, no one can save you. ”

Lao Yang turned his head in his mind, took out his mobile phone and started typing.

An hour later.

When Cao Lao finished lunch and drank tea at home, Lao Yang had already walked over with the sketch with the temperature of the printer and put it in front of his eyes.

Cao Lao casually picked up his reading glasses and looked up.

(End of chapter)