Immerse yourself in the world of Vincent van Gogh at the largest retrospective in South Korea at the Hangaram Art Museum in Seoul.
Guess what? The Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands has sent 76 of Vincent van Gogh’s (1853-1890) paintings to Seoul! This is the biggest Korean show of Van Gogh’s work ever. You know, Van Gogh had a tough life – lots of tragedy, poverty, and failures.
Despite all that, it’s time to celebrate the beauty of these amazing paintings! The Hangaram Art Museum inside the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho District is hosting the show, and it starts on November 29th.
Van Gogh, The Great Passion – The Largest Retrospective in South Korea
Van Gogh was a prolific artist, creating around 2,100 works during his decade-long career. Oil paintings were his specialty, with about 860 of them. The Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo is home to the second-largest Van Gogh collection, boasting over 90 paintings and 180 drawings.
It’s been a whopping 12 years since the Seoul Center Museum, the folks behind this exhibition, brought some original Van Gogh paintings to the amazing country. Back in 2007, they had two retrospectives at the Seoul Museum of Art, and in 2012 at the Seoul Arts Center, they brought the goods from the same museum in the Netherlands.
The paintings featuring in the Van Gogh retrospective in Korea are valued at 1 trillion KRW ($714,285) as per the organizers. The 76 works include 39 oil paintings and the remaining being drawings.
What is a Retrospective?
A retrospective is like a time capsule of an artist’s or performer’s work, showcasing their journey over time. It’s like a treasure hunt that reveals their unique style, techniques, and themes. These retrospectives give us a deep dive into their creative process and how they’ve shaped their field.
The show is arranged in a chronological order. It starts with Van Gogh painting at the age of 27 and ends at 37 when he got shot. You will be able to see the transformation of his body of work. His artistic journey can be traced through his different locations, where he created his masterpieces in The Hague, Paris, Arles, Saint-Rémy, and Auvers-sur-Oise.
Van Gogh’s Art History
Van Gogh’s early drawings were mostly made in the Netherlands during the 1880s. The director of the exhibition, Seo Soun-jou, said that these early works were the starting point for Van Gogh’s oil paintings later on. This was also when Van Gogh first experienced heartbreak, which was caused by his widowed cousin. This event had a big impact on his life and made him sad for the rest of his days.
Van Gogh had a tough time making ends meet as an artist. He only sold one oil painting, “The Red Vineyard,” throughout his entire life. He also had to go to a mental hospital because of seizures. Sadly, he took his own life at a young age. Van Gogh’s art career didn’t quite compare to the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, or Picasso, but his unique artistic style made him a global superstar.
“His paintings are a heartfelt tribute to humanity, which is a shame because he never found true love,” Seo shared during a press conference at the exhibition on Friday. “He poured his heartache into his beautiful creations.”
“Van Gogh, The Great Passion” is still on display until March 16 next year. Hangaram Art Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., except Mondays. Admission is 24,000 won for adults.
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