“I would rather die of passion, than of boredom” – Vincent Van Gogh
Ten years ago my partner Lynda and I went on a northern hemisphere adventure and stopped in Paris for a few days. The art museum Musee d’Orsay is a spectacularly restored railyard only a short stroll from the centre of Paris and a must see.
It’s approximately a fifth of the size of The Louvre and houses some of the world’s finest paintings. One of the ‘permanents’ there is this one, a Vincent Van Gogh self-portrait, one of several he completed shortly before his death in 1890.
Now, I’m no art historian, more the “I like it or I don’t’ type of critic, but Van Gogh is my all-time favourite artist. At Musee d’Orsay you can get ridiculously close to the art. I’m talking arm’s length to priceless works. All they have for protection is a wire set at knee height that supposedly prevents you from reaching out and touching these masterpieces.
This self-portrait was my first experience ‘live’ with a Van Gogh. I can only describe the feeling as being in an altered state and I embarrassingly started choking up. It’s what great art does, it elicits an emotional response.
The only security at Musee d’Orsee must be up in a control centre somewhere because they were noticeably absent on the floor. I imagined what the discussion would have been like between the two security guards watching me sobbing in front of the Van Gogh that day.
Yves – Can you see that pale, pudgy white guy down there in front of the Vincent?
Jaques – Yes, I think he’s Australian
Yves – Looks like he’s lost le plot
Jaques – Sure does. You know they have a name Down Under for weak men like this
Yves – What is it?
Jaques – Le Imbecile
The Lume is a new digital sensory space next to Jeff’s Shed, the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. The Van Gogh experience is the venue’s first exhibition and it exceeds all expectations.
Apparently Lume was put together by a designer who after attempting to drag his bored children around art galleries, came up with something to keep them as engaged as the adults.
Complete with aromas and a beautiful soundtrack, this is an immersive experience like nothing we had experienced before. It’s a giant space with plenty of room and even a small café. You can view it from upstairs or as we did, just find a comfy spot to sit down and revel in the majesty of the forty minute show.
The images of each of Vincent’s eras are introduced then wash over you even on the floor which added to the dreamy effect. I wasn’t aware of his Japanese period and just how intricate and lavish he was with his brushstrokes. It’s a truly beautiful experience and a superb tribute to a remarkable artist.
It seems incredulous that someone of his talents didn’t start until he was twenty seven, then completed approximately 2000 works over ten years until his death, half of which were oil paintings.
I must admit I got a bit choked up again as we entered the experience. I don’t know what it is but I do feel a strong connection with his paintings and it’s unique style. Perhaps having read about his life also resonates given we both had and have bi-polar.
Vincent volunteered to enter a mental institution in 1889, a year before his death but there was little help with mental illness back then, unlike today. I can only imagine what it must have been like and as one of the many quotes screened on a wall at the exhibition stated, “Art is to console those who are broken by life.”
As much as I can empathise with Vincent’s thinking, I draw the line at cutting off my ear and mailing it to a prostitute. For now anyway. Just kidding.
The other quite stark difference between the Dutch Master and me is that I have no artistic ability whatsoever. Both my daughters can draw, so just to annoy them I have three objects, a house, a dog and a cat that is my signature whenever I send them any form of correspondence. Check it out.
I might check in with the security guards again for their opinion.
Yves – Le shithouse
Jaques – Le spot on
The Lume Van Gogh Experience is a ripper and for everything you need, go to this link:
https://thelume.com/melbourne/
Here are some photos from our visit. You’ll see there is even a room with easels where you can try and draw ‘Starry Night’ in five minutes following a youtube video.
