A darkly humorous and compelling satire of the art world from the author of The Disaster
Tourist . An Yiji's career had been stalling for some time when a representative of the
illustrious Robert Foundation offers her a spot on their all-expenses-paid artist residency in
California. The residency has launched many famous artists' careers so she knows she can't
waste this opportunity. Still she feels reluctant to accept and with good reason: the
foundation's patron is a small dog named Robert known for both his talent as a photographer
but also his arrogance. Moreover the offer comes with a condition: on the last day of the
residency one of An's paintings must be incinerated and Robert gets to select which one.
When An reaches California she finds the state ablaze with wildfires but at the Foundation
all is calm. She navigates awkward dinners with Robert tries to find inspiration while being
bombarded with sponsors who all want their business to be the subject of her art and despairs
at the prospect of her work being set on fire. Was coming to California a huge mistake?
