2010年3月28日星期日

Vincent van Gogh never fades away


His name is famous worldwide whether people are interested in art or not, and his influence is still spreading. This is Vincent Van Gogh, a man who dedicated his whole life to art. Get to know him more through his letters.

Listening to the old classic folk song “Starry starry night, paint your palette blue and gray…”, it is easier to think of van Gogh.

Most people simply regard Vincent as a crazy painter creating his works with gorgeous colours all the time.

Now here’s a chance to get much closer to this genius artist.

The exhibition entitled “The Real Van Gogh: The Artist and His Letters” opens at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, running from 23 January to 18 April this year.

The exhibition features about 40 original letters written by van Gogh, mostly to his brother Theo, as well as 60 paintings and drawings reflecting themes in the correspondence.

“What comes after the letters is that he is a very thoughtful, very reflective man. His letters are full of detailed information about how he thought about making his works of art,” said Ann Dumas, the curator of this exhibition.

Nienke Bakker, the organiser from Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the cooperative partner of this exhibition also expressed a similar idea: “we want to show how the artist thought about his own work, what we can learn from his letters about how he created his paintings and drawings and how he saw the role of the artist.”

Looking at Vincent’s letters being shown alongside the paintings, a carefully creative development of his works was displayed including flowing sketches.

“Van Gogh was a very intelligent, determined person who worked methodically and reflected on what he wanted to achieve,” said Nienke in Amsterdam.

“He structures every composition carefully and seriously before he starts, this attitude is the most important inspiration for me,” said Keiko Aida, a young Japanese visitor.

“Now most young artists have over emphasized a free style during the creation process, they’re so casual with it. I don’t think it works,” Keiko continued explaining.

Van Gogh had a great passion for painting. He was really delighted when he started teaching himself to draw as he stated in his letter: “a change has come about in my drawing…I’m no longer so powerless in the face of nature as I used to be.”

Just two days before he shot himself, van Gogh even told his brother about his full attention on his recent works rather than any depression in the letter.

“He’s always tireless when creating new art works, even until his death, this dedication spirit is really admirable, and it’s him who inspires me to paint sunflowers as there’s always a moving life in his works” said Richard Wright, a British visitor.

This is the real van Gogh, who led a brightly flaming life by putting every heartbeat in his works, and continues to bring in people infinite inspirations all the time.

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