By Ling Sing Lin
Van Gogh Museum
I visited the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam many years ago whilst on an official trip. This museum holds the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s paintings and drawings, which is not unexpected, as Van Gogh was Dutch. Aside from the brilliant hues of most of his paintings, I was also mesmerized by his dark and gloomy paintings, most notable being The Potato Eaters. I wondered whether the bright colours were painted during his manic phases and the dull colours during his depressive phases.
Van Gogh, the Man
Born in 1853, Van Gogh was a pastor’s son. He had tried his hand at art dealing, missionary work and even hoped to become a preacher. He only picked up a paintbrush at age 30, and in the next seven years (he died at age 37), he painted 2100 paintings.
His father thought he was a madman and a failure, his 3 sisters did not think much of his art, and he was diagnosed as an epileptic. In reality, he was probably a manic-depressive. He checked himself into a small private asylum, where he was allowed to paint. He could start a painting in the morning and be finished at lunchtime. He painted Starry Night from memory when he was in the asylum, where he stayed for one year .
He shot himself in the chest at age 37, and died only 2 days later. He was not commercially successful during his lifetime, and only posthumously became one of the most famous and influential figures in Western art history.
Among the most famous of his paintings are Sunflowers, which in reality comprise eleven different paintings on sunflowers; his Bedroom in Arles, and Starry Night. He also did numerous self portraits, including one where he had cut off part of his own left ear after a quarrel with his room mate, Paul Gauguin.
Van Gogh Immersive Experience
I attended the exhibition when it was brought to Singapore for a 4 month exhibition. It was definitely a “must see” event, with 360 degree digital projection of Van Gogh’s art works, a Virtual Reality component, and over 300 of his artworks.
Vincent(Starry Starry Night)
There is even a pop song by Don McLean dedicated to Vincent Van Gogh.
lingsinglin
Dr Ling Sing Lin is a medical doctor by training. She worked in MOH HQ for many years, in policy making and administrative positions, until her retirement.
