Famine

Chapitre 2

Forget it, there are plenty of pretty girls online, I'll just keep looking for more.

He turned off his computer, took a sip of tea, prepared to wash his hands, and then went home from get off work.

As he left the office and prepared to turn off the lights, he inadvertently glanced back at the corner of the wall.

The anonymous painting was there, re-wrapped in kraft paper and plastic, with its four corners reinforced, and the number "051" clearly visible.

The curator's assistant had a strange urge to look at the woman in the painting again, but he found it troublesome to remove the protective cover and then put it back on afterward.

After hesitating for a moment, he reached for the light switch on the wall, turned off the light, closed the door, and left.

The office was dark and eerily quiet. The anonymous painting sat silently against the corner, as if waiting for something.

The next day, two FedEx trucks arrived and took away the fifty paintings that had already been packed.

In the afternoon, a meeting of the S Art Museum's administrative staff was held in the conference room to summarize the exhibition, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses. For example, the lack of advertising on the back of the admission tickets was a major oversight, especially considering that the Japanese company that purchased Mr. M's work has a joint venture in Pudong. Getting advertising from there would have been a sure thing, and the S Art Museum lost at least 100,000 yuan.

Overall, the results are encouraging. The number of visitors exceeded expectations, and the media actively cooperated with extensive coverage. It is recommended that the museum hold more exhibitions of master-level works like this in the future to promote the revitalization of Shanghai culture.

The anonymous painting was only mentioned near the end of the meeting.

The assistant curator gave a brief explanation of the situation, then removed the protective cover and showed the painting to everyone.

After watching for a while, people weren't very surprised, just puzzled and confused.

First of all, it is certain that this anonymous painting is not Mr. M's work, nor is it an exhibit in this exhibition. However, it is difficult to explain why it was placed in a protective sleeve specially made by the museum for this exhibition and printed with a number.

Oil painting No. 51: 773 Horror Series 13

Section 4: I have never seen such a painting before

Some have suggested that it might be a piece that was forgotten in the warehouse. Due to staff negligence, it was mistakenly placed in the protective sleeve for this exhibition and, by a twist of fate, hung in exhibition area C on the second floor.

However, after searching through the warehouse's computer records, the artwork was not found. The warehouse manager stated unequivocally that he had never seen such a painting before.

Actually, checking the warehouse is unnecessary, for the same reason: the S Art Museum will not collect a single painting by an anonymous artist.

Therefore, it can be basically ruled out that this painting is from the museum's collection; that is to say, it is from abroad.

The first possibility is that it was brought in by a visitor, who then secretly hung it in exhibition area C on the second floor when no one was looking.

As a visitor, it is allowed to bring your own bag, but if you are carrying an oil painting that is one meter long and eighty centimeters wide, you will definitely be stopped by security. Who has ever seen a visitor carrying an oil painting to an art exhibition?

If a nimble thief were to sneak into an art gallery under the cover of darkness and hang the painting up, that would be a possibility. However, we've only ever heard of thieves stealing paintings; thieves delivering paintings are unheard of.

The second possibility is that it was done by an insider at the museum, who took advantage of their position to bring the painting into the museum. The painting could be placed in the back seat of a car, and the artist could carry it from the underground parking garage to the second floor by elevator and hang it up without anyone noticing.

But what is the purpose of doing this?

Even if it's a "crime", there must be a motive, right?

After much thought, only the following motive seems convincing---

An unknown painter, hoping to ride the coattails of Mr. M's influential solo exhibition and gain fame quickly, bribed a staff member at the art museum to smuggle the painting in and hang it up. To cover his tracks, he even forged a protective cover and added the serial number 051, showing his meticulous planning.

When someone offered this logical reasoning, it was immediately and fatally refuted.

How could this guy, so eager for fame, have overlooked the most important thing? He should have signed the painting! If the audience mistakenly thinks it's an unsigned work by Mr. M, isn't that like buying firecrackers for someone else to set off?

Before we knew it, the museum meeting had been extended by more than half an hour. Although everyone had different opinions, they all agreed on one point: the painting was indeed very good. Whether it was the composition, color tone, use of light, or the portrayal of the figures, it was all remarkable. It was clear that the artist had considerable skill and was by no means an unknown newcomer.

Except for that mask.

"Director, why don't we call the police? Let them investigate this matter."

After the museum meeting ended, as he was leaving the meeting room, the assistant director caught up with Director Chen and offered a suggestion.

Director Chen looked at the callow youth through the Essilor lenses.

"Call the police? How do we call them? Tell me, when we call the police station and they ask what happened, what are we supposed to say?"

"I just said... I just said..." The assistant curator choked a little.

"It's not that there's a missing painting, but rather an extra one. If we ask them to come and investigate immediately, they'll definitely reply: 'Sorry, we have limited manpower. You'll have to deal with it yourselves—tear it up, throw it away, burn it—just don't pollute the environment!'"

The assistant curator scratched his head. "Yeah, why would the police handle something like this?"

"How about we place a lost and found notice in the newspaper and let the artist or owner of the painting claim it?"

This was the second idea the assistant curator had suggested. Curator Chen chuckled, a hint of sarcasm clearly in his voice.

"Since it's an advertisement, a photo of the painting should be included as well, so readers can easily identify it. Even if the artist can't be found, someone might provide a clue."

"Yes, just take a digital photo," the curator's assistant said repeatedly.

"An advertisement like this would cost at least eight to ten thousand yuan. We'll deduct it from your salary over four months!" Director Chen said, seemingly very seriously.

The assistant curator was dumbfounded.

"The S Art Museum's annual budget doesn't include this 'search for anonymous painters' expense, so we have to find another way. Since you're so enthusiastic, you can pay for it!" Director Chen said with a smile.

The assistant curator sensed that Curator Chen was intentionally mocking him and felt awkward, so he could only say, "Well... never mind then."

He cursed inwardly: "Old man, I was trying to help you with ideas, and you treat me like this. We've been working ourselves to the bone for this exhibition, while you've been hiding at home, enjoying your mistress. You're already fifty-eight; in two years, you'll have to step down as director. Let's see how cocky you are then! I'm the sun at eight or nine in the morning, while you're the setting sun, about to fall..."

Thinking of this, the assistant curator, still feigning humility, asked again, "Curator, what should we do with this painting? Wouldn't it be such a waste to throw it away?"

"Just put it in the storeroom. Who knows, its owner might show up in a few days."

"Okay, we'll do as you wish."

A few days later, an announcement was published in an art magazine in which S Art Museum had a stake:

"Recently, an unclaimed oil painting on canvas, measuring 100 cm in length and 80 cm in width, was discovered in the S Art Museum. Titled 'Zoe on the Windowsill,' it depicts a female dentist in a dental clinic setting. We urge the artist or anyone with information to contact the museum immediately at 63272829 ext. 136, asking for Mr. Liu."

The text consisted of only a few lines, without any photos.

Maybe this guy really wants to become famous through this. If a photo of his painting were published in a professional art magazine, wouldn't that be exactly what he wants?

The museum director's assistant became suspicious.

This magazine is jointly published by several organizations, including the S Art Museum, the Municipal Artists Association, the Chinese Painting Academy, and the Oil Painting Department of the Art College. It is quite professional and can be easily picked up at the S Art Museum as a complimentary copy. The publication of this notice is also free, and Director Chen did not express any objection.

The notice disappeared without a trace, receiving no response.

Oil painting No. 51: 773 Horror Series 13

Section 5: The Art Museum's Basement Storeroom

That afternoon, Director Chen had a fight on the phone with his forty-one-year-old wife, and the cause was Mrs. Chen's only daughter. Mrs. Chen has a daughter in high school, who is seventeen years old this year. Because her mother remarried, Director Chen became her stepfather. Apart from her figure, Director Chen found nothing about this spoiled and arrogant young lady pleasing to the eye.

Recently, the young lady met an American boyfriend on Yahoo! They not only chatted online but also texted and made international calls. Instead of using a SIM card (presumably a phone card), she apparently found entering the card number and password too troublesome and used the home phone directly, much to the dismay of Mr. Chen, who was used to being frugal. When he tried to bring it up with his wife in a more tactful way, he was met with a disdainful look: "You've married a new wife and gained a beautiful daughter for free. With two flowers in the house, any other man would be overjoyed and would pamper her, willing to do anything for her. But you, you're so stingy with even a little phone bill! You're pathetic."

If it were his own daughter, Director Chen would definitely warn her that there are too many scams online and to be careful. But now, Director Chen would rather that American be a cannibal like Hannibal Lecter from "The Silence of the Lambs," who would abduct this young lady to America to be his meal, or the head of an international human trafficking organization, who would sell her to Las Vegas to work as a stripper. In short, he would never see her again.

After hanging up the phone, filled with resentment, Director Chen took the elevator to the basement warehouse.

Huh? What am I doing in the warehouse?

Director Chen himself was a little puzzled; he was probably blinded by anger.

Since he was already there, Director Chen made the best of it, taking a stroll through the storage room to check on the work. There was central air conditioning, maintaining the temperature and humidity within a standard range year-round, which was beneficial for the preservation of the paintings.

"What's that?" Director Chen pointed to a painting wrapped in kraft paper in the corner.

The warehouse manager gave him a strange look and replied, "It's that extra painting!"

The word "redundant" is concise and to the point.

Director Chen stood just a meter away from the painting when suddenly, an idea surged into his mind uncontrollably—

Since it's superfluous, why not keep it for yourself?

Director Chen admitted that he had never had this thought before; it just popped into his mind in that instant when he was a step away from the painting.

Later, Director Chen wrote the following in his memoir:

"This is a psychological suggestion it gave me, or rather, an order it issued, leaving me with no choice but to obey."

As the head of the museum, Chen Ziqi had several ways to get the painting out of the storeroom without anyone noticing.

Three days later, the painting was hung in the study of Director Chen's home.

The study was arranged somewhat incongruously. The writing desk, chair, and bookshelves were European-style, but there was no sofa. Instead, there was a mahogany coffee table and two mahogany chairs. On the west wall hung a calligraphy scroll with four powerful characters: "Rarely Confused." This was, of course, not an authentic work by Zheng Banqiao, but rather written by Director Chen himself. On the east wall hung an oil painting, with the calligraphy facing it, suggesting a clash between Eastern and Western cultures.

At this moment, Director Chen held a purple clay teapot, sipped Longjing tea, and admired the oil painting. He felt an indescribable feeling—a special comfort and satisfaction. Even he himself found it strange; he had simply picked up a painting for free, not even a masterpiece, so why was he so excited?

Putting a mask on the person in the painting, obscuring her facial expression, is a real mistake. But one has to admit that the mask does evoke a sense of voyeurism, making one want to see what kind of face is behind it.

Rather than calling it "Zoe on the Windowsill," "Zoe Wearing a Mask" would be a more fitting title...

Director Chen was only thinking about it; he wouldn't arbitrarily change the title of a painting. As the director of an art museum, he understands the importance of respecting the artist's right to name a work.

Director Chen wrote a small sign and pasted it on the wall below the painting:

Oil painting on canvas: "Zoe on the windowsill"

Author unknown.

Date of creation unknown

Collector Chen Ziqi

He carefully studied the painting; the nameplate on the female doctor's chest read "Attending Physician Zoe," confirming her English name was Zoe. To further his understanding, Director Chen consulted the list of common British and American names appended to the *New English-Chinese Dictionary*, which contained 2,400 entries. There were only nine entries in the "Z" column:

Zane, Zangwill, Zelda, Ziegler, Zimmerman, Zimmern, Zinsser, Zoe

Of the 26 letters in the alphabet and 2,400 names, only a pitiful nine begin with Z. It seems that very few Englishmen and Americans use Z as the first letter of their names.

Of the twenty-six letters of the English alphabet, Z is the last, and coincidentally, Zoe is the last of all surnames, which is quite interesting.

In Director Chen's memory, there is a very famous name that starts with Z, namely the famous Zolo, but it is excluded from this name list, probably because Zolo is a Latin American name.

With a slurp, the Longjing tea in the purple clay teapot was completely drunk out. Director Chen put down the teapot and suddenly thought of "a person".

This anonymous painting is now in the S Art Museum; someone must have brought it here.

Director Chen was thinking about "this person".

What exactly was his purpose in doing this?

This painting quietly entered the S Art Museum and then quietly left, ending up in my study. This outcome must have been unexpected for "this person."

Could this be exactly what he was hoping for?

Only when a painting leaves the museum and enters a home will it fulfill its purpose...

Director Chen smiled. He had come up with a way to unveil the mystery surrounding "this person".