Roman (45) is a Serbian artist living in New York, an inveterate drunk loved by the critics but who hasn't enjoyed much commercial success. Most of his work consists of neon tubes arranged in minimalist configurations.
Jesus, or "Chucho" (35), is an undocumented Mexican immigrant living in New York. He doesn't have much of an education but his great skill with neon tubes got him plenty of work making and installing large-scale signage for stores and advertising across the city. Roman came across him by chance and, admiring his skill, invited him to come work for
him at his art studio as an assistant. Thus began a relationship that thrived for years. Roman came up with the concepts and Chucho made them a reality.
At a party with several fellow artists, Roman angrily complains that the art market is a sham, that art isn't valued out of a love of art but love of money.
To demonstrate his theory, he draws up a detailed plan to fake his own death. One day, he disappears at sea and Chucho, Roman's wife, friends and colleagues assume that he has died.
Vivianne (50), an enterprising, experienced gallery owner, who has been representing Roman for many years without much success, takes advantage of the opportunity and plays her cards shrewdly, contacting her network of collectors and museums, issuing press releases, selling to celebrities, telling stories on social media and doing anything else she can think of to raise the price of Roman's work.
The problem is that she's too successful: the price of the work rises but it also sells out too fast. Vivianne is stunned!
Chucho sadly hands the keys of the studio to Vivianne and says that he's leaving. He loved his boss as a friend and his death has upset him greatly.
One of the items he hands to Vivianne is a sketch book of Roman's designs. When she sees the treasure trove, Vivianne asks him to stay and make the work that Roman left unfinished. Chucho is reluctant initially but Vivianne wins him round, saying that it's a common practice and will enhance Roman's legacy ... and he'll also make plenty of money.
Given Chucho's precarious immigration status and financial situation, he isn't in a position to turn her down.
After all, it was him who made the artworks while Roman was out partying. When Vivianne finds that the work made by Chucho sells even better than Roman's earlier pieces, she suggests that he start making his own pieces after he's completed all the designs in the notebook.
Chucho gradually takes on the mantle of "artist" and starts to speak, dress and act like Roman. In order to meet demand, he hires a team of Mexican assistants and becomes the head of the studio. He starts to buy new clothes, live on his own, eat at restaurants and hook up with women from the art world.
Vivianne promises to get him his green card and he starts sending more money back to his family in Mexico who use it to make additions to their house, showing Roman on video calls.
From his hideout on a Caribbean island, Roman learns that his gallery is preparing a major exhibition of work "discovered" in a basement that he obviously hasn't made. He decides to return to the New York.
Shortly before the show, he goes to the gallery to confront Vivianne and Chucho. He warns them that he won't stand for their lies and is going to reveal his latest artwork to the world: the performance and documentation of his death.
Vivianne proposes an alternative plan, pointing out how well his posthumous career is going. He doesn't have to do anything, just enjoy the kind of fame he never experienced before his "death". Vivianne tries to convince him it's an opportunity to make a lot of money but Roman isn't interested.
Chucho, meanwhile, feels used and betrayed by Roman: he grieved and prayed for him after his sudden disappearance and tries to show Roman that what he did was wrong, art or no art. Roman has let him down as a friend and a human being.
Chucho warns him that he has no choice now but to remain a "dead artist". Roman, however, ignores him and in his pride and arrogance chooses the worst option.
All rights reserved
/
Search inscriptions
