Chapter 650 - 299: Change

Honestly speaking.

Buddhist teachings are profound, and the mysteries of life and death are enigmatic.

The monks at Lingyin Temple might not interpret reincarnation in the same way.

But Professor Boggs used these twelve simple cat sketches to articulate his Buddhist worldview.

Truly filled with Zen flavor.

When all twelve sketches were displayed in front of everyone, the assistant finally grasped the essence.

"So it’s... the ’Bull Painting’."

He uttered a name.

This type of painting, where each piece is related to the previous one, with adjustments in brushwork and composition to form a "gradient painting," uses the most straightforward method to convey an abstract artistic concept to the audience.

This was not originally created by Professor Boggs.

Picasso’s most expensive work might be the nearly 200 million US Dollar "Women of Algiers," and his most well-known work is, of course, the wall painting "War and Peace" titled "Gernika."

However, if we were to choose the work that best represents Old Bi’s artistic philosophy in his career,

then "Bull Painting" would undoubtedly be at the forefront of this list.

"Bull Painting" is a series of eleven sketches, all depicting the same bull.

The first painting is a highly realistic depiction of a robust bull. The second painting, based on the first, highlights the bull’s strength in greater detail, enhancing its expressiveness and primitive mystique.

From the third painting onward, Picasso begins to gradually eliminate details of the bull, employing simplification and outlining to deconstruct the artistic concept of the bull.

By the final painting, the bull on the sketch has been abstractly reduced to a few scattered lines like a child’s drawing.

Professor Boggs’ set of "Amy" sketches mirrors the artistic approach found in Picasso’s "Bull Painting."

Sixty years ago, Picasso used eleven bull paintings to articulate the essence of abstract and cubist art philosophy in a simple and clear manner.

Today, on this ranch in Queenstown, Professor Boggs conveys the American layperson’s view of yin-yang life and death reincarnation with twelve black-and-white paintings using a fairy tale-like depiction of cats.

Jean Arnou understood this point, which is why he was so astounded.

The works on the easel before us are far more than just a set of sketches.

They can essentially be described as an elegantly structured, poetic depiction of life and death’s Buddhist verse.

"Life begets from death, and death transforms into life, just like the constant conversion of wheat and its grains."

Lady Anya softly recited a verse, capturing the sentiments of many present.

"You truly have an artistic temperament," the assistant praised.

"It’s not my words; these are Mahatma Gandhi’s opening remarks during a speech at Benares Sanskrit University."

An Indian client who runs a tech company deeply admired their national hero and once used this phrase as an introduction on his Twitter profile.

Anya had an average impression of that client and had already unfollowed them on Twitter.

At this moment.

The female artist, upon seeing Professor Boggs’ artwork and being drawn into its worldview, suddenly recalled his words without any apparent reason.

The principles of heaven and earth are everywhere, and they’re not costly.

Without sufficient experience and the appropriate context, idioms initially often come off as superficial insights.

Professor Boggs’ twelve works, each of them masterpieces, together possess the power to move people.

Anya experienced almost a sense of solemnity akin to partaking in a religious ceremony.

As if after seeing these paintings, she gained several insights in the depths of her soul.

"Mr. Jean Arnou’s viewpoint is correct; these twelve paintings are the most awe-inspiring art exhibition I have seen this year."

"If you agree, Zaohe Space Art Gallery is willing to provide the venue and funding to host a personal exhibition centered around these twelve paintings." She eagerly extended the invitation.

Knowing full well that the timing wasn’t right.

Lady Anya’s instinct as an art merchant, finding excitement in discovery, wouldn’t let her wait a single second longer.

The female artist sensed the potential for a classic exhibition that could draw the attention of numerous European hipsters and spiritual enthusiasts, and she had even thought of a name.

"Reincarnation of a Cat."

Organizing an entire exhibition for twelve paintings seems exaggerated.

But this set of sketches is entirely worth it.

The scale of an exhibition doesn’t correlate with its impact.

Many so-called "small" exhibitions aren’t small in scale, especially those graduation exhibitions organized by art academies for graduates, displaying hundreds if not thousands of works.

They don’t attract much traffic.

The key to an exhibition is the quality of the works, not necessarily the quantity.

Herds of cattle and sheep, a solitary tiger.

In fact, there’s an industry joke that the fewer the exhibits, the more significant the exhibition.

Because the organizers and curators have confidence that just a few pieces can attract enough visitors without failing to recover the costs.

Zaohe Space Art Gallery, the largest and most famous art innovation park in Dongxia.

The most common practice in recent years is to use connections to "invite" a piece by Monet, Degas, or Picasso.

Just one piece can be the basis for a special exhibition.

By catering to the tourists drawn to admire the master’s authentic works, they sell the cultural peripherals of the painting, profiting greatly.

These twelve sketches by Boggs gave Lady Anya ample confidence to undertake the expenses of a large exhibition costing several hundred thousand euros.