Un coup de maître

Look.

This work of art is by Renzo Nervi,

known for a life full of ups but also many downs.

Look closely at this painting.

Don't ask yourself what it means.

Art is not just a representation of reality.

Art can also create its own reality.

Don't try to understand it for there is nothing to understand.

Embrace the experience that is given to your senses.

Now that you have had a good look,

follow me,

I will introduce you to the painter, Renzo Nervi.

A great painter and a great friend. The best friend that I ever had.

You're pissing me off man. You don't realize how much.

You're so depressing that you're dragging me in.

What's your plan?

It took you 10 years to come up with this exhibition...

It's not just that we didn't sell anything,

but look at the press.

They destroyed us.

Art Press. The great Laveran.

So, let's see here... "It's suicidal to exhibit such an artist in this day and age

"who is so embedded in the past century."

"It is suicidal."

I am not even gonna read you the other ones.

Renzo, the problem is that you refuse all interviews, ignore the press.

It doesn't matter. You know that it doesn't matter.

Critics don't have the power anymore. It's the auctioneers, buyers, collectors.

It's all about money and you know it.

It is precisely these collectors, auctioneers and critics

who want to meet you.

You didn't even come to your own opening.

Not my fault. I have agoraphobia.

What are you talking about? You have a medical certificate?

- Agoraphobia and supermarketphobia. - Super what? Supermark...

- I am scared of supermarkets. - Stop pretending...

You are talking to me, Renzo.

I'm not asking for very much here. Just come by the gallery, please.

I can't.

I can't fake it with those idiots explaining me my art.

Listen, they can't all be idiots.

- Arthur. - Yes.

Playing the fool is your role, not mine.

Don't take it badly, you're great at it.

It's your thing, you're good at it. I'm not.

Laveran was right.

You've become a "has-been", Renzo.

I don't care what Laveran says.

I don't even read the critics anyway. Ever.

You should.

"Labyrinthe" is the exhibition.

Here, we are really wandering the mind of Renzo Nervi.

It's very striking. I absolutely love this painting.

It's dreamlike but also nightmarish.

- Do you like it? - Yes, I do.

- You do? - Yes.

For me, I find that under the cruelty

lies an irony, a certain commiseration.

- Indulgence even. - You are absolutely right.

Absolutely right.

You can feel the humanity behind the stroke of the brush,

behind the excitement of the bodies,

you really feel the humanity of the artist.

You feel his fragility.

It is as if you are predestined to buy this painting.

The day you are in front of a Nervi, is the day the artist is here in person.

It's very rare. Let me introduce you.

- Renzo, let me introduce you to... - Hello.

Excuse me, sorry.

Do you like that? Shall I do the others?

- No thanks, I'm good. - Suit yourself.

- Shall I call the police, Arthur? - No, it's fine.

- I can call the asylum. - No, really it's fine.

Anas.

Here you go, I don't need it anymore.

You gunned someone?

I gunned three.

As if.

You like it?

One moment, please.

Arthur, it's Renzo Nervi.

- You told him I was here? - Yes.

Eugénie!

- You are here. - You shouldn't be so pragmatic.

It's not because you see me that I'm here.

- Life is more complex. - You want to talk to him?

No. Give it here.

So. Hi. What's up?

- Liked it? - I don't know, Renzo...

You might not be aware of this but using a gun on a piece of art

has already been done by Niki de Saint-Phalle.

You haven't created anything new.

Arthur, art is an endless revolution.

Thanks to you, I have just lost a very important client.

Forgive me if I don't want to talk to you right now.

Have a nice day.

No, no, no, wait, don't hang up on me.

OK, look I went too far, I'm really sorry.

Thank you so much for admitting it, that's so big of you.

Saying sorry is really gonna save things.

- Right, I have to go now. - No, wait.

I just wanted to tell you:

I'm broke. Do you think you could give me an advance payment?

What advance? For the painting I couldn't sell because of you?

Even if I had sold it, it wouldn't cover the damage you did.

- What damage? - Listen Renzo...

The bullets didn't just go through your painting,

they also ended up going through my wall.

Oh, you mean that damage.

It's all over anyway. The exhibition is finished. We're packing up.

Don't forget the meeting.

Eugénie will contact you for the delivery.

The what?

We're sending back the unsold paintings, which are...

- All of them. - Did you hear that?

Renzo?

Yes, what do you want?

Renzo Nervi?

Yes, that's me.

I'm Alex, very pleased to meet you.

What can I do for you?

I'd like to learn painting, be your apprentice.

I brought you some of my work if you want to see it.

And how did you find me?

It wasn't easy.

Almost as hard as finding Banksy.

- I don't take on apprentices. - Try me out.

Are you deaf? I said no apprentices.

I'm not deaf. I'm just stubborn.

Go and see someone like Jeff Koons, guys like him.

This is no factory. I do everything myself.

Exactly.

You are one of the last great active painters.

A living legend.

Literally, a living legend.

You're a funny one. Stubborn, but funny.

One week's trial, Any slip-ups and you're out.

- Understood? - Yes, Master.

- Stop calling me that. - Yes, Master.

We will start off with a little observation exercise.

So, you are going to sit on this chair

and observe all the objects that are in this room.

All means all: the kayak, the swan,

the bambi, the bike, the casket, the thing.

- Agreed? - OK.

- What's the point? - You will understand later.

Alright then, good.

Thank you.

Master?

I've been observing for more than three hours now.

Ah, yes, yes.

Well.

You will now empty the entire content of this room.

You take all of this mess: in the closets, on the wall, the floor.

I want it all gone.

You take all of it and put it in this room here.

- OK? - OK.

Good.

But why?

So you're not done yet?

Do you know how long it took Hercules to clean the dirty stables of Augeas?

No, how long did it take him?

Well, it took him a really long time.

I'll tell you: it took him a day. Only one day.

But he was the mighty Hercules, not as skinny as a rail like you.

Well, even so, could you give me a hand with the kayak?

Yes, what is this about?

- This is another exercise right? - No, it means you're just unlucky.

What are all these paintings?

The unsold ones.

- Mr. Forestier? Hello. - Hello.

- Nice to meet you. Follow me. - Nice to meet you.

We need an imposing painting for such a wall.

Yes, we were thinking of something like minimum 3 m by 1.5 m.

Very good.

Allow me to make a suggestion to you.

Instead of buying an old painting,

why not commission an original one instead?

I mean something that is made especially for you, custom-made.

We could call on a great artist.

We could make a reference to your company.

Perhaps to its reputation, its history.

- Sounds interesting. - Sounds good.

I think it is.

Do you have an artist in mind?

Renzo Nervi?

You are kidding me.

Don't you have someone less problematic and more civilized?

No, Renzo will be perfect.

It's not in your best interest.

Yes, but you can't always reason through interest.

Yes, you can. You hired me to remind you of that voice of reason.

Your admiration for him clouds your mind.

Yes, yes that's it. I admire him and that's it.

I rightfully admire him.

And to admire someone is not about who is popular or who sells.

It means really admiring someone.

You know, the first time I saw Renzo's work, I was overwhelmed.

I'm not talking about my own personal emotions.

I'm talking about something universal.