User:Iuio/van Gogh article
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A replica of Dutch post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh's ear has gone on display at the Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, Germany, in an exhibition starting from May 30 and planned to last until July 6.
The museum says the piece, work of United States based artist Diemut Strebe, was created by use of computer imaging technology to ensure it was “identical” to the shape of van Gogh's ear, and sculpted from cartilage grown from cells donated by Lieuwe van Gogh, who is descended from Theo Van Gogh, brother of the famed artist. A 3D printed was reportedly used to produce the final piece on display. In creating the piece, Strebe commented on Tuesday that her intent was to merge art and science, according to the Associated Press.
On the conception of the project, titled "Sugababe" by Strebe, "I use science basically like a type of brush, like Vincent used paint." According to the Daily Mail, Strebe said Lieuwe "loved the project right away". The piece was created to commemorate an incident in 1888, where Vincent purportedly cut off his own left ear, the cause of which reports variously attribute to psychosis or rage.
As Theo's great-great-grandson, Lieuwe had 1/16th of his genes in common with Vincent, including the Y-chromosome which is shared unchanged by members of the paternal family line. Initial plans for the project reportedly called for Strebe to create the piece using extracted DNA from an envelope that was purportedly used in 1883 by the artist, which would then be amplified and combined with Lieuwe's cells. However, that plan was scrapped after the DNA was reportedly found to belong to another person.
Sugababe was reportedly grown at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and maintains its viability through suspension in a nutrient solution which, according to BBC News, could theoretically sustain the piece for years to come. Strebe is also reportedly working to obtain mitochondrial DNA, passed down through the maternal family line, by collaborating with a female relative of Vincent, with the intent of utilizing it in future works.
Visitors are capable of talking into a microphone placed near Sugababe's display, whereby a computer would convert the sound waves generated into real time stimulated nerve impulses. According to the museum, the intent of the piece as a recreation of Vincent's ear via scientific means was an allusion to the paradox of the Ship of Theseus, wherein the question was raised as to whether or not a ship which had all of its parts replaced was still the same ship as before or a completely new one altogether. On the noise created from speaking into the microphone, the museum has stated it was symbolic of absence, as opposed to presence.
Active in the 1880s, Vincent was renowned for producing still-life, including those of sunflowers, as well as his self-portraits. Also garnering attention due to his troubled personal life, Vincent committed suicide in 1890 at the age of 37. Post-mortem, his work went on to have an impact on 20th century art. Following the conclusion of the exhibition in Germany, Strebe has announced plans to display Sugababe in New York, New York the following year.
Sources
edit- David Ng. "Vincent van Gogh ear replica made from relative's DNA goes on display" — Los Angeles Times, June 4, 2014
- "Vincent van Gogh 'live ear' on display" — BBC News, June 4, 2014
- Associated Press and Kieran Corcoran. "Vincent Van Gosh! German museum displays live replica of artist's severed ear grown from his relative's cells and shaped in a 3-D printer" — Daily Mail, June 4, 2014
- AP. "German museum exhibits Van Gogh's ear replica grown from relative's cells" — The Guardian, June 3, 2014
- "Diemut Strebe: Sugababe" — Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, June 5, 2014 (date of access)