WHEN I GIVE, I GIVE MYSELF
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
May 9th, 2015 through Jan 17th, 2016
Works by Cheng Ran and Gabriel Lester are included in “When I Give, I Give Myself”, a show that features 23 Dutch and international artists and writers to provide a contemporary trail through the permanent collection, placing Vincent van Gogh in a different light.
Vincent van Gogh wrote over 800 letters, mainly to his brother Theo. In these letters, he movingly describes his ambitions and his doubts, as well as what inspired and amazed him in the world around him. The ideas about art and life which Van Gogh expressed in his letters are inextricably linked to his work.
What do Van Gogh’s ideas and insights mean to artists and for art as it is practised today? The artists each received a specially selected Van Gogh letter. They responded in a piece of art, a letter or a poem. Their surprising answers are displayed in the Van Gogh Museum among the works of Van Gogh.
Curated by Henk Schut, the show includes artists Eylem Aladogan, Maria Barnas, Michaël Borremans, Hafid Bouazza, Constant Dullaart, Jan Fabre, Alicia Framis, Ryan Gander, Arnon Grunberg, Christian Jankowski, Anish Kapoor, Job Koelewijn, Nicole Krauss, Yayoi Kusama, Gabriel Lester, Navid Nuur, Rory Pilgrim, Cheng Ran, Viviane Sassen, Pilvi Takala & Siri Baggerman, Simon van Til, Diego Tonus, Wouter Venema.
Gabriel Lester interview.