The Versatile Master Artist

Chapter 94 - 82: Painting and Calligraphy Auction

If you were to name the most famous thing from Myanmar, it would undoubtedly be the Jade Market.

In its heyday, the annual jade transactions at Myanmar’s Jade Market conducted by merchants from the Continent amounted to tens of billions of dollars, accounting for one-third of the Myanmar Government’s fiscal revenue, with the jade economy contributing to over half of national income.

Correspondingly, here are similar auctions: fish are sold at the Seafood Auction, fruits at the Fruit Auction, and naturally, paintings and calligraphy at the Calligraphy and Painting Auction.

When the taxi that Gu Weijing was riding stopped, his uncle and a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair were already waiting at the warehouse entrance.

The middle-aged man wore a brown coat and had two upward-twisting little moustaches at the corners of his mouth, which were yellowed from frequent smoking.

"Mingalabar (hello)."

The Little Moustache was very polite, quickly jogging to open the taxi door for Gu Weijing.

"Boss Wu, this is the nephew I mentioned to you. Elder wanted him to come this time to gain some experience." The uncle waved at Gu Weijing.

"Happy New Year."

Gu Weijing nodded towards the other party.

This Boss Wu was the middleman who previously sold their family the "Cyan Bird Singing Bamboo" painting.

Today’s Calligraphy and Painting Auction was organized by Boss Wu and a few familiar colleagues, controlling many small painting and calligraphy vendors in Yangon, reportedly holding quite a number of good paintings.

A few larger local galleries, as well as all renowned collectors interested in antique and old artworks, received invitation letters sent by Boss Wu and his group.

The market opened in the morning.

Gu Weijing saw that quite a few people had already gathered inside the open doors of the warehouse, including his uncle.

The painting and calligraphy acquisition business at Gu’s Painting and Calligraphy Gallery had always been run by his uncle.

Gu Weijing wasn’t particularly interested in such things, but this time there was a Calligraphy and Painting Auction focusing on early 20th-century paintings.

Works from the Impressionism group have been highly influential among artists over the past century.

He wanted to see if there were any works that met his requirements in the hands of a middleman like Boss Wu, who had a mixed bag of artworks. Even if he couldn’t buy any, being able to appraise them on the spot and take them back for copying would be good.

So, after saying a few words to Elder at noon, Gu Tongxiang sent him over.

Perhaps because he previously spotted the issues with the "Cyan Bird Singing Bamboo" painting at a glance, Elder had a high regard for Gu Weijing’s eye.

This time, he was given a budget of two thousand US dollars, along with the five hundred dollars refunded by Boss Wu, totaling two thousand five hundred dollars in an envelope.

Although US dollars are theoretically not allowed to circulate in Myanmar, the green Franklin has always been hard currency in any chaotic region.

In private transactions, the exchange rates offered by these merchants can sometimes be even higher than the official rates.

Their family does business with foreigners, and they usually prefer dealing in dollars.

With two thousand five hundred, plus a bit of money in Gu Weijing’s Paypal account, overall, it should be enough to buy a decent painting.

This is also why he wanted to come here and try his luck.

"Mr. Xiao Gu, is it? Truly a dragon among men, remarkable!"

Boss Wu with a Small Moustache, upon seeing Gu Weijing, showed no disrespect due to his youth; instead, he gave a thumbs up.

This made Gu Weijing a bit puzzled.

Boss Wu was much older than him, and although the business of Gu’s Calligraphy and Painting Shop was important to him, it wasn’t something on which he solely relied for livelihood.

Considering the other party’s previous unscrupulous business conduct, a bit of politeness from Boss Wu was expected, but this level of attitude was almost sycophantic.

It didn’t make sense, did it?

"Your nephew is quite accomplished, even catching Brother Hao’s eye. I hear Brother Hao is very good to his juniors. In a few years, I might need Mr. Xiao Gu to look out for me."

Boss Wu handed the uncle a Marlboro cigarette and personally lit it for him.

Okay,

Gu Weijing understood what was happening.

The buying and selling of these secondhand art dealers are divided into legitimate and underground businesses.

The kind of Calligraphy and Painting Auction run by Boss Wu belongs to the legitimate side of the business, but the real wild and profitable deals come from art dealers operating in the underground black market.

Many paintings in their possession have unknown origins and could very likely be stolen goods; smuggled items merely to avoid taxes are considered relatively clean.

In Western art museums, especially those lesser-known but with fine collections, private university or church-affiliated museums getting robbed or stolen are almost monthly news.

Multi-million-dollar paintings, tens of millions of euros worth, being stolen ten or so times a year wouldn’t even be surprising.

Interpol estimates that the art black market each year is a real billion-dollar market.

The bald-headed Boss Hao is a tycoon engaged in such underground black market and fake, stolen artwork dealings.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have told Gu Weijing confidently that working for him, he could buy a Ferrari within a year and live in a villa within two.

Apparently, Boss Wu heard some inaccurate news from somewhere and mistakenly thought he was an underling of Brother Hao, which is why he was somewhat fearful and respectful.

"You got it wrong. Brother Hao did approach me, but I turned him down. I just want to be a solid artist, not capable of enjoying such luxurious endeavors. Whatever Boss Wu heard is not true."

Gu Weijing said expressionlessly.

"Uh...this?"

Boss Wu with a Small Moustache was clearly taken aback.

Someone like him couldn’t even find a way to connect with Brother Hao, and he couldn’t imagine anyone refusing an opportunity to get rich together with Brother Hao.