Van Gogh Reborn!

Henry Marceau smirked as he watched Ko Hun’s personal broadcast. 

His ability to handle watercolor paints was mediocre.

Although he had the rhythm of drawing, he was only at the level where he could understand the characteristics of watercolor paints with his head.

Henry Marceau was happy that there was something even Ko Hun couldn’t do. 

“Well then.” 

He sneered at the little boy who impressed him with every painting he drew.

Right now, there were two things that irritated Henry Marceau. 

One was, that he couldn’t understand what Ko Hun was saying, and the second was, Ko Hun’s refusal to the special exhibition. 

Through the chat, he could understand that Ko Hun was thinking about rejecting the invitation and applying for the contest, but other than that he couldn’t understand anything as Ko Hun still continued broadcasting in Korean. 

Along the way, there seemed to be a talk about Ferdinando Gonzalez, but he couldn’t figure out what he was saying. 

Until now, it was enough for Henry Marceau to just look at the painting drawn by Ko Hun, but not today. 

When Henry Marceau was about to turn off the Live feed, suddenly, Ko Hun started singing. 

Baby Shark, do do do do do do

Henry Marceau narrowed his eyes. 

“What is he doing?” 

He was dumbfounded. 

He couldn’t understand why he thought of singing after drawing that pathetic watercolor painting. 

“Yeah. What is he doing? It’s cute.” 

Michelle Platini poked Henry Marceau in the back with her foot. 

“He is out of his mind. If he wanted to play coloring, he should have done it with the coloring book I gave him.” 

Henry stopped suddenly as he was turning his head. 

The gaze of Michelle looking at him was unusual. 

“What?” 

“What?” 

Michelle asked back, opening her eyes wide. 

Henry had no idea why she was suddenly doing this, after having breakfast and lying in bed for about an hour without saying a word.

It seemed strange because last night, she stared at him with a lovely gaze after falling in love with the pedicure he gave her.

Michelle shook her head after reading Henry’s thoughts. 

“Watch a lot.” 

“I don’t have to watch it.” 

When Henry Marceau told her to turn off the TV, Ko Hun’s singing stopped. 

At the same time, the screen became transparent and the entire room came into view beyond the TV. 

The infrared keyboard that was reflected on the bed table also disappeared. 

Michelle opened her mouth when the TV rolled into the ceiling. 

“Why? Look more.” 

“Why look at something you don’t even understand? The painting is a mess.” 

Henry Marceau got up and picked up the bottle of water on the table. 

“Why don’t you learn?” 

“What?” 

“Korean. As Hun said, most Koreans watch the show. How can he speak French in that show?” 

“I don’t watch it. It’s not fun.” 

Michelle wanted to ask why the hell he was watching a show that wasn’t fun from dawn on the once-a-month day when they were together.

She just didn’t bring it up because her pride didn’t allow it. 

Michelle asked as she moved her eyes to her smartphone. 

“And don’t bother Hun. I’m proud of him.” 

“What are you proud of ?” 

“Well, he wants to compete and get the chance without your help and have an exhibition. How commendable is that child.” 

As Michelle said, the Louvre National Art Salon Special Exhibition was a stage that artists around the world wanted. 

After Henry Marceau took the position of director of the French National Art Association in 2024, it was recognized as the most prestigious competition of the year as well as the oldest salon exhibition. 

Famous artists also wanted to participate in the Louvre National Art Salon special exhibition, but they were not qualified, so they swallowed their regrets. 

“Hmph.” 

Henry Marceau snorted. 

“If that guy accepted it, it doesn’t mean that someone else’s opportunity is lost, but now it will. I purposely prepared it that way, but he kicked it? 

“…… ” 

Michelle knew that Henry was angry because Ko Hun rejected his favor, even though he was citing other people’s opportunities. 

She shrugged her shoulders. 

“just in case? I wonder if Hun can win the prize.”

“Say something that makes sense,” 

Henry said with a straight face. 

“He knows it very well. He says he’s going to participate in the contest because he knew very well that he would win the grand prize. If he doesn’t have that certainty, why would he turn down such an opportunity?”

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. Why do you hate him so much? 

“What?” 

“You know it very well that Hun didn’t want to take your help because he didn’t want the special treatment? But why are you twisting it in a way that you make him a villain?”

“That’s…!” 

Henry Marceau stopped talking for a moment. 

From his first painting [Sunflower] to his latest work [Bullet], Henry Marceau couldn’t help but admit that Ko Hun was a genius. 

He couldn’t think that the brat he was supposed to overcome would be pushed back by someone. 

“…because he’s good.” 

Michelle frowned at Henry’s words. 

“What?” 

“That’s enough.” 

Henry Marceau turned his head. 

Michelle, who was looking at his back, smiled softly. 

She didn’t think there would be a crack in the belief of the man filled with self-love and pride. 

Michelle thought Henry was confused by the unknowingly rising sense of inferiority, even though he acknowledged Ko Hun. 

Michelle wrapped Henry’s neck. 

“I think your drawing is much better” 

There was no response. 

Michelle sincerely loved Henry Marceau’s paintings more, so she gave him confidence once more. 

“You’re the best.” 

Henry didn’t answer for a while and then opened his mouth. 

“Of course,” 

Hearing the heart-warming voice, Michelle smiled and kissed Henry. 

“I have to participate.” 

“Where?” 

“Contest.” 

“…huh?” 

Michelle was very perplexed.  

“Wait. What do you mean by participating? What about the opportunities for others you were talking about just a while ago?” 

“It’s none of my business.” 

Henry Marceau’s eyes burned with conviction. 

As Michelle expected, he was bewildered by the unfamiliar feeling in his heart. 

A sense of inferiority 

Henry Marceau could not acknowledge the inferiority complex. 

It was impossible to tolerate the state of being jealous of someone and denying oneself. 

He wouldn’t have considered participating if it was a different contest. 

Fortunately, the jury for the Louvre National Art Salon consisted of really talented and prestigious artists and critics that Henry Marceau regarded highly. 

Michelle stopped him. 

“Where the hell is a person who participates in the contest he organizes?”

“It’s organized by the government.” 

“It’s just the name! Do you think people are stupid?” 

Michelle shouted in frustration. 

This year’s budget for the National Arts Association of France consists, of 28% from donations from individuals and organizations, 22% from government subsidies, and 9% from membership fees for artists belonging to the association. 

The remaining 41 percent were supported by Henry Marceau. 

Since taking office as a director in 2024, Henry Marceau has been donating a large sum of money, and in fact, the French National Association of Arts has been run by Henry Marceau. 

Every French artist knew that. 

If Henry Marceau were to participate, they couldn’t help but vote in his favor. 

At Michelle’s point, Henry Marceau thought for a while and opened his mouth. 

“Put it up anonymously.” 

“What?” 

“It won’t have my name, then it will be fair.” 

“What are you going to gain by participating anonymously? At the award ceremony, it’s going to be revealed anyway, then people will think of the whole thing as a sham.” 

“I don’t need the prize. All I want to do is beat Ko Hun.” 

Michelle looked at Henry and sighed when she confirmed that he really meant it. 

She knew that she couldn’t change his decision once he decided on something.

“Do as you please.” 

Michelle lay down on the bed and picked up her smartphone. 

While she was reading the news, she noticed an article. 

[Ko Sooyeol gives up the position of dean of Korea University] 

Artist Ko Sooyeol, who impressed the world with his bold and dynamic painting style, will step down as dean of the College of Fine Arts at Korea University on the 3rd of next month. 

The art community is looking forward to seeing him, who has lived as an educator so far, predicting that he will work as an artist again. 

Korea University said it will hold an individual exhibition to mark the retirement ceremony of Ko Sooyeol. 

It will be the first time in 19 years to see Ko Sooyeol’s works. 

It will be exhibited for two weeks from August 3 at the Seoul Museum of Art in Korea. 

“It seems like Sir. Ko Sooyeol will be retiring.” 

Henry turned his head. 

“There will be an individual exhibition from the 3rd of next month” 

Michelle showed her smartphone. 

Henry, who took it, nodded after reading the article. 

“10 years is too late.” 

The work that Ko Sooyeol left when he was young came as a big shock to him. 

For Henry Marceau, who was not very interested in Oriental art, Ko Sooyeol’s newly established Korean painting’s energetic strokes showed another world he had never thought of. 

As Ko Sooyeol stopped working as an Artist and began to walk on the path of an educator, countless people felt sorry for him. 

Henry Marceau was one of them. 

He frowned as he tried to hand over his smartphone to Michelle. 

[Ferrinando Gonzalez fighting the disease!] 

Ferdinando Gonzalez, who participated in the Whitney Museum event yesterday, was taken to hospital in critical condition. 

Ferdinando Gonzalez, who made his public appearance in three months, was noticeably haggard and the investigation confirmed that he had Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). 

Ferdinando Gonzalez, who had already been diagnosed three months ago, has cleared up all his assets, according to sources. 

The Louis Foundation, founded by Ferdinando Gonzalez, works to maintain the exhibition of his last work and to support the poor. 

The art world was shocked by the sad news of Ferdinando Gonzalez, a symbol of the modern art world. 

Ferdinando Gonzalez’s last work will be on display at 90 museums around the world from Aug. 1. 

[An artist who became a victim of political strife ahead of the U.S. presidential election] 

Ferdinando Gonzalez, a young American artist, has been embroiled in controversy since coming out. 

The incident occurred when several art museums, which were in talks with Ferdinando Gonzalez, notified him of the suspension of the contract. 

As a result, the art community and sexual minorities protested, and public criticism spread. 

As a notable contemporary artist in America, things related to Ferdinando Gonzalez have spread to politics. 

Republican figures argued that the museums also had the right to whether to exhibit or not to exhibit Gonzalez’s works, and Democrats strongly criticized the Republican Party for staying in the DADT, which was already abolished 17 years ago. 1)

As the media battle rages ahead of the presidential election, when it was revealed that Ferdinando Gonzalez had AIDS, a Republican congressman said, “Look, the end of homosexuality is always unhappy. Even now it’s not late, we have to cure the disease called homosexuality.” 

A Democratic senator who objected to this, sparked another controversy, saying, “The museums that refused to exhibit Ferdinando Gonzalez’s work and drove him into a madman should pay reparations.”

In the art world, Ferdinando Gonzalez is being victimized in a political battle, while the art community was appealing to see the last work of an artist representing the United States as it is without any prejudice.

Ferdinando Gonzalez was rushed to a hospital yesterday and was said to be fighting with death. 

“What’s wrong?” 

Looking at Henry’s unusual expression, Michelle asked anxiously. 

She stood up and saw the smartphone screen, side by side with Henry. 

Michelle covered her mouth at the news of Ferdinando Gonzalez’s struggle with the disease. 

She couldn’t help but be surprised at the ordeal for the great artist who achieved the popularization of conceptual art that had been isolated from the public.

TRIVIA

1)Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), byname for the former official U.S. policy (1993–2011) regarding the service of homosexuals in the military. The term was coined after Pres. Bill Clinton in 1993 signed a law (consisting of statute, regulations, and policy memoranda) directing that military personnel “don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue, and don’t harass.” When it went into effect on October 1, 1993, the policy theoretically lifted a ban on homosexual service that had been instituted during World War II, though in effect it continued a statutory ban. In December 2010 both the House of Representatives and the Senate voted to repeal the policy and Pres. Barack Obama signed the legislation on December 22. The policy officially ended on September 20, 2011.