A few days later, Feng Yu, who had finished touring the mansion, fell to New York. He had not come to New York for investment. He had come to attend an auction. Sotheby’s auction.
Sotheby’s is a world-renowned art and book auction company and has branches in over 40 countries. Their main auctions are located in New York and London.
Almost half of the many art pieces and books sold at sky-high prices worldwide are from Sotheby’s.
This time, Feng Yu had come to Sotheby’s auction as he heard there will be many art pieces, books, and paintings for auction. The global economy is not doing well, and many of those former internet tycoons were almost bankrupt. That’s why they had to sell their art collection.
Feng Yu’s target is oil painting. He wants to buy it for Kirilenko as his wedding gift.
Feng Yu has asked Ralph to find out more about this auction. There will be a few western oil paintings up for auction and some world-famous paintings by Gogh and Picasso.
There are many famous painters in history, but Gogh and Picasso’s paintings are the most popular. Even Feng Yu, who doesn’t know anything about art, had heard of their names. They can be considered the top two painters in modern history.
Feng Yu’s mentality is that if he is going to give someone a gift, it must be something the other party likes and appreciates. If he gives a Chinese or a Chinese art collector a National-level Chinese painting, it will be priceless. But to Kirilenko, painting is no different from those 3 for 10 RMB paintings along the streets.
……
“Boss, this is the booklet for this auction. There are pictures, descriptions, Appraisal organization information, bidding prices, etc. I had written down the pages of the oil paintings on this paper.”
Ralph passed a booklet and a piece of paper to Feng Yu. Feng Yu is not worried about the art pieces sold at Sotheby’s will be fake, as Sotheby’s reputation is worth at least a billion USD. If the painting is fake, they will not dare to put it up for auction. Of course, some of the items do state that they cannot determine its authenticity, and it is up to the buyer to decide if they want to bid for it.
Feng Yu flipped to the pages of the more expensive oil paintings. The first painting <Massacre of the Innocents> is by a Netherlands artist, Peter Paul Rubens. It depicted the killings of innocents and captured the emotions of the victims.
The starting bid is 40 million USD, and Feng Yu immediately strikes it off.
It is not about the price. Feng Yu does not mind buying a 100 million USD painting for Kirilenko as they are good friends for many years. Without Kirilenko’s help, Feng Yu will not accumulate his first pot of gold so easily.
This painting is about killing and showing negative emotions. How can he give it as a wedding gift?! Also, Feng Yu had not heard of this artist.
The second painting is a self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh. Although photography is available during his era, and there are three well-preserved photographs of him, he still drew over forty self-portraits. Each one of his self-portraits is very popular with collectors.
Feng Yu looks at this self-portrait painting on the booklet. It’s blurry and is in weird colors. Oh… the Appraisal organization had written a note. “This self-portrait is not expressed by the vivid colors of a photograph. It shows the artistic value through the use of colors.
The artistic value of the art piece through the use of the colors?! Feng Yu could not see its value and doesn’t know how those people who know ‘art’ can see the value.
The starting bid for this painting is 50 million USD. Feng Yu drew a tick on it. Vincent van Gogh is a famous painter. Although he doesn’t know how to appreciate this painting, maybe Kirilenko’s fiancée will like it.
The third paint is called <Still Life> by Paul Cézanne, a French artist. Feng Yu looks at the painting. It’s only a table with apples, onions, oranges, a bottle of wine, plates, tablecloths, wine glass, etc. He couldn’t see what’s so special about it, but the starting bid is 42 million USD.
Are you sure this is not drawn by those art students in schools? What’s the difference?
The description for this painting is: “This apple has no politics, no ideologies, no ambition, no emotions! The apple is fresh and tasty. It is true to its natural state. Peaceful and quiet. This is a special piece of art with special meaning.
Feng Yu is impressed with the person who wrote this description. This is just a f**king apple which every beginner art student must draw. Of course, the apple cannot think about politics, ambitions, etc. Do you think this apple can run for the US President?!
Special meaning? What’s the meaning? There is an onion beside the apple. Are you sure it is tasty?
Fine. Feng Yu had also heard of this artist’s name, and he drew a tick beside it. Based on his understanding of Kirilenko, he will definitely hang this painting in his dining room. Hmmm… Feng Yu also thinks this painting should be hung there.
Eh? There is a Picasso’s painting. Feng Yu is overjoyed when he saw the title. <Woman with Folded Arms>. Kirilenko will surely love a painting with a woman.
Feng Yu immediately flipped the booklet to that page, and his face changed. This is a masterpiece by a famous artist?! Is this the same painting that everyone praised?!
Feng Yu felt the woman in the painting is more abstract than the alien he imagines. Even a kid can draw better with crayons. He starts to wonder if this painting is drawn by Picasso with his feet.
Feng Yu will have nightmares if this painting is hung in his bedroom!
But Feng Yu remembered Picasso is known for his abstract art pieces, and he still drew a tick beside it.
Feng Yu is not pleased with the following few art pieces. The artists are either not famous enough, or the painting is not suitable. For example, <The beating of babies> by Peter Paul Rubens.
How can Feng Yu give this painting to Kirilenko at his wedding? Should he tell Kirilenko, “Brother Ki, Spare the rod spoil the child” after giving this painting?
Kirilenko is Russian. Even if he is Chinese and comes from the Northeast and Northwest region, where it is common for Chinese families to beat their children, he will also chase Feng Yu to give him this painting!
Feng Yu does not know about the manuscripts, books, etc. and Kirilenko and his fiancée should not like it. Furthermore, those are not expensive.
Feng Yu starts to wonder. Could he not know how to appreciate arts, or are these paintings overvalued by speculators and businessmen for profits?
If money is involved, everything will change. Feng Yu is not worried as he is rich, but he wants a painting that suits the occasion.
From all the paintings, <Still-life> is the most suitable gift for Kirilenko’s wedding. But do Feng Yu really want to give Kirilenko an ‘art student’ piece of work to be hung in his dining room?
Sotheby’s
