The Versatile Master Artist

Chapter 139 - 99: Art Curator (Part 2)

With Tangkis’s current status, publishing a paper isn’t actually difficult.

He manages an entire art gallery, and if he wants to push through a paper, he surely can.

However, what he can do, his competitors can do as well.

An ordinary paper wouldn’t be much help to him.

Art-related papers are like this; ordinary papers are easy to write, but if you want to make an original discovery, it’s thirty percent effort, seventy percent luck. In some sense, it’s even harder than politics. If you’re always thinking about making a major discovery, it’s more practical to discuss how to become a Minister of Culture.

The third method, which is more direct, is to hold an art exhibition since he’s a curator.

Especially for large international art exhibitions at the "national card" level, almost all the directors of these art galleries have experience in curating large exhibitions.

With Curator Tangkis’s current resume, participating in the Venice Biennale, the crown jewel of art, is not difficult, but becoming an independent curator for the exhibition is still a bit challenging.

At most, he might take on the role of a collection coordinator for some subordinate pavilion.

If he were to switch to a second-tier national art exhibition like the Singapore International Art Exhibition, he could immediately become an independent curator.

"Curator Tangkis is the curator leader for the European region of the Lion City Art Exhibition?"

Gu Weijing saw this news and was only slightly surprised.

The organizing committee for such a large exhibition has dozens, even hundreds of renowned art critics and curators, with a list of names that can fill up an entire webpage, which he didn’t scrutinize closely.

Even if he looked closely, as a student from Yangon, it’s still hard for him to connect with such big names.

If Curator Tangkis is just a member of the organizing committee, Gu Weijing wouldn’t be surprised at all.

Out of courtesy, for a big figure like the curator of Taylor Art Gallery, the organizers would typically send an invitation if there’s intent.

Just like the countless invitations Assistant Old Yang receives each year for various big and small art exhibitions on behalf of Elder Cao.

However, Elder Cao is already in a semi-retired state,

and generally, unless it’s unavoidable, he would politely decline, only lending his name for those committees.

But an independent curator carries a different meaning.

He remembered the Singapore Art Exhibition — there is one independent curator for each of Asia, Europe, the United States, Africa, and Oceania, and he didn’t expect that the Tangkis curator they were going to connect with would be the curator for the European region.

"If possible... after recording the salon, could I ask Mr. Tangkis some questions?"

Gu Weijing hesitated for a moment.

For a painter who wants to exhibit, the opportunity to communicate directly with the exhibition curator is rare and precious, but this is Mr. Tree Sloth’s podcast.

Not communicating with the host in advance seems very impolite.

"Are you interested in the Singapore Art Exhibition?"

Anna was looking forward to seeing this Detective Cat embark on the road of a legitimate artist. Seeing him finally express interest in an art exhibition "under her suggestion" made her very happy.

"Of course, I have no problem with it; we just need to see Curator Tangkis’s opinion."

She agreed to the request without any hesitation.

Why Detective Cat wants to chat with Curator Tangkis is easy to understand.

The selection and award of works for international biennials depend on the theme, curators, and the preferences of the juries.

This year’s Lion City Art Exhibition theme "Human World’s Clamor" is very inclusive.

At the same time, while submitted works flourish, the subjective aesthetic inclination of the committee becomes more critical.

It’s like a culinary competition; faced with two equally good dishes, what a Jiangnan judge who doesn’t eat spicy food prefers between a vibrant spicy dish and a mild celery shrimp stir-fry is self-evident.

Although an international committee from all over the world can moderate such personal aesthetic biases to a certain extent,

the curator’s opinion remains the soul of an art exhibition.

If someone asked whether Detective Cat contacting the curator would be unfair to other artists wanting to exhibit,

come on,

there’s never been absolute fairness in the world.

If you consider an art exhibition as an exam, understanding the examiner is something the candidate needs to do.

Even Anna, with her art purity, wouldn’t see anything wrong with it.

Since the beginning of time, personal connections have been the most crucial part of various art circles since the birth of the painting profession.

Fathers recommend sons, teachers recommend disciples, seniors recommend juniors, and agents promote their artist’s reputation, which are too normal to mention.

Exhibiting artists discussing their works with curators in advance is almost an industry standard.

Just like actors favored by directors might discuss the script with them during its preparation and are more likely to be chosen during casting.

If you’re outstanding to a certain degree, like Elder Cao, a whole international biennial revolving around one artist like you is also possible, just like a custom script.

The only question is,

would Curator Tangkis be willing to chat with Detective Cat?

...

It was exactly 1:00 a.m. Myanmar time,

fifteen minutes before the formal start of the salon recording.

Gu Weijing sat in front of the computer, with an open document on the iPad to his right. It contained electronic versions of five paintings submitted by fans and densely packed annotations he made on them.

With the assistance of the Calligraphy and Painting Identification Skill,