Alive

A pre-booked outing today to Van Gogh Alive. Described as an “immersive multi-sensory experience” I was not quite sure what to expect. Having seen many Van Gogh paintings over the years but particularly recently on the USA visit I was interested to see what was involved.

The start of the exhibition was reasonably standard with information panels describing the different phases of the artist’s life and development. Then there was a physical creation of a painting of his bedroom at Arles. The objects had themselves been painted to provide texture and the feeling you were inside the painting. See first extra.

All the while there was the sound of mainly classical music being played. And then you enter the audio visual display rooms: two areas blended together with openings fearing different sight lines. Each with a variety of wall and floor screens showing his artwork in full or in detail. Many familiar sights but some less so, such as the second extra - an early health warning?

The pictures frequently changed in time to the music. There were modern pictures/ films projected onto the floor and, intriguingly, many of the pictures were animated with crows flying, trains chuffing, clouds moving, smoke rising etc.

It was so fascinating we watched the 45 minute show twice. The main blip gives a flavour of the second room when it showed Starry Night over the Rhône.

On the way out we went through a mirrored room creating the effect of fields of sunflowers.

Throughout the display there were extracts of Van Gogh’s writings. Some evocative and reflective. Some beginning to show the turmoil in his mind. And some just relishing the joy of nature and of painting.

Overall a great experience and glad we saw it before the end of its Edinburgh run.

As we got back home a different turmoil in Westminster broke. As I write this at the end of the evening it looks as if the Prime Minister remains politically alive - for the moment. I suspect the PM does not keep a diary- if he did he could have referred to it to check what happened a year or so ago. But if he does, I wonder what his writings would convey.