Meet the Man Behind the Madness

There are some artists who are just as famous as their work. And Vincent Van Gogh is one of them. 

‘Sunflowers’ and ‘The Starry Night’ are recognisable even for those with little interest in art, and both feature in the Meet Vincent van Gogh experience on London’s South Bank this spring. 

The exhibition guides visitors on multi-sensory journey through Van Gogh’s extraordinary life to learn more about the man whose mad genius led to some of the most amazing pieces of art in the world, but also his downfall and untimely death at the age of 37.

The exhibition is informative, immersive, and entirely unpretentious.

The interactive sets of some of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings allow visitors to become part of his life and most recognised works. 

Climb the ‘Arles Haystacks’ and take a selfie in a life-sized recreation of the artist’s bedroom. 

Explore the iconic Yellow House and pull up seat at the ‘Potato Eaters’ table. 

There are six main stages to the exhibition starting with his early life from 1853 -1879 and then his time  as an emerging artist between 1880-1885.

Moves to his time in the south in 1888, then the illness and creativity stage in 1889-1890 and finally success, which runs from 1891 to today.

Each section is packed with art, interactive displays and an audio guide, which is used brilliantly to covey Van Gogh’s emotions through letters he wrote to his brother Theo.

The audio guide is full of interesting nuggets from his life, including how he fell desperately in love with a widow, who ultimately rejected his affections.

There is also an interesting audio clip where he describes his bedroom in great detail, which later became the subject of his famous painting ‘Bedroom in Arles’.

Listeners also learn of his angst and fear of never become successful and how he attempted to poison himself using his own paints. 

Fans of Van Gogh can admire famous works blown up to a large scale, thus magnifying all the intricate details of his paintings.

The exhibition is an entirely accessible experience aimed at both art enthusiasts and total novices. 

Nothing is off limits and a relaxed atmosphere allows children to take a closer look at Van Gogh’s techniques, materials and tools.

The interactive appea of the exhibition encourages families to visit, and children can create their own self portraits in Van Gogh’s unique style. 

• Meet Vincent van Gogh, 7 February 2020 – 21 May 2020, Upper Ground, London, meetvincent.co.uk