Discovering Van Gogh

The Words & Image team of Ann and Rob went along to Beyond Van Gogh, the Immersive Experience, at the NEC Birmingham, which is on until 1 September 2024 and is well worth seeing.

I couldn't help thinking that if anyone would appreciate this beautiful exhibition it would be Vincent Van Gogh himself. The 19th century artist – now regarded as one of the most popular Post-Impressionist painters of our time,

struggled throughout his life to acknowledge his own worth and his own genius. Through his many letters to his brother Theo, which are part of the experience, he lets his dreams, his thoughts and his struggles on painting and art be known. And now through this experience a much wider audience can get to know the man behind the paintings.

Although I’m no expert on Van Gogh, it seems to me that his desire was to capture on canvas nature, colour, light and texture, as well as people, portraits and even everyday things. When he couldn’t afford to pay a sitter, he would practice by painting his own self-portrait. He was a painter for just ten years but in that time he painted a lifetime’s work, but sold only one painting.

Reading his letters it seems that his efforts fell short in his own eyes. In desperation and frustration Vincent Van Gogh cut off his own ear.  He then put himself into an asylum, where he continued to paint but finally and tragically, aged just 37 he took his own life.

It was through the efforts of Vincent’s sister-in-law, Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, who inherited Vincent’s paintings after the death of Vincent’s brother Theo that Vincent Van Gogh’s works came to be eagerly sought after. 

While the paintings were worthless at the time, Johanna brought them to the eyes of the art world, bringing Vincent the posthumous appreciation and fame while eluded him in life. 

As most people know, one of his sunflower paintings sold at Christie’s Auctions in 1987 for a record-breaking $39 million.

Now to see his work – hundreds of his paintings lifted from the confines of their canvas and digitalised through modern technology to be beautifully presented in such fluid form, I think, would have pleased Vincent Van Gogh immeasurably.

The Van Gogh Immersive Experience is produced by Paquin Entertainment Group. Developed in partnership with Annerin Theatrical and Normal Studio. And to celebrate the opening of the experience, on Wednesday 31 July Helen Marriott, Marketing Manager at the NEC and Scott Christensen, Creative Development General Manager at Annerin Theatrical welcomed a small audience to a preview of Beyond Van Gogh, the Immersive Experience.

Following a sunflower themed trail into darkened halls we learn of Vincent Van Goch's story. Told through extracts of his letters and quotations, reproduced on large hanging canvasses over Van Gogh paintings while soft classical music plays soothingly in the distance. The soundtrack incidentally, of ‘Beyond Van Gogh the Immersive Experience’ can be found on Spotify.

We are eventually led into a huge hall with wall-to-wall Van Gogh images ebbing and flowing over walls, floors and even over the people themselves. It feels psychedelic almost – a kaleidoscope of Vincent Van Gogh's beautiful paintings - colours textures and patterns slowly moving and blending together, constantly merging into something new.

The mesmerising visions create a feeling of calm and relaxation, and it’s fine to sit on the floor and let his paintings wash over you or stroll around this massive hall as Van Gogh’s world of art opens up to you – an altogether beautiful experience.

For tickets and news of where this will be on show next, go to: https://www.thenec.co.uk/whats-on/beyond-van-gogh/

We Meet The Kenilworth Artists

 We appreciate art in all it many forms, so going along to the Kenilworth Artists’ exhibition held in St John’s Church, Kenilworth, was a great morning out. Not least to see people actually getting out and about once more – following Government guidelines, obviously, but because of the amazing talent all in one room. The exhibition is on until Sunday 4^th July 2021.

You’ll find displays of hand-crafted items including paintings, ceramics, glass, mosaics, textiles, prints, cards and much more. And of course, you’ll have the opportunity to meet and chat to many of the artists about their work.

While the majority of the artists in this group have long been involved in their particular craft, the group as a whole only got together a few years ago. As individual artists, the majority of these talented people knew each other or knew of each other’s work, but many hadn’t met or joined together for an art event. 

Thanks to Jo Ricketts who works in fused glass, plus a handful of the artists, they organised the group Kenilworth Artists, which now has a strong presence on social media, and of course come together to put on fabulous exhibitions for the public.

Holding their current exhibition in the tranquil setting of 19^th century St John’s Church, is a perfect venue amid the sandstone arches and stained-glass windows. They have ensured that lockdown restrictions and safeguards are all adhered to, ensuring a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere on the opening day. Visitors could happily browse the artwork, talk to the artists, and even have tea and cake.

The work on display was incredibly varied; paintings included watercolours, acrylic and oils; from the brilliant wildlife and landscape works in all those mediums by Chris R. Saunderson, to the wide variety of photography and artwork created by Natalie Thurman.

As mentioned, Jo Ricketts makes the most beautiful and unique ornaments and decorative pieces from fused glass – working with flat glass and a kiln, her skills produce outstanding work. 

Also, creating artwork that captures the attention is Kevin Alexander whose tools include a credit card and masking tape as much as a paintbrush!

In their normal working life, two artists – Helen Jayne Woodcock and Karen Pittaway, share Karen’s studio in Old Town Kenilworth. Helen creates stunning fine art paintings, often of the streets, buildings and landscapes of Kenilworth amongst other settings. While Karen’s unique paintings have an influence of L.S.Lowry about them yet full of colour, light and fine detail which speaks of the story-teller in her.

Captivated by the unusual perspective of her latest ‘lockdown’ paintings of the Kenilworth street she lives on, Karen explained to me: “These have been such strange times, I wanted these paintings to look a bit strange – a bit disorientating, hence the bending of buildings. And one shows the people out in the street, clapping the NHS. To get the perspective of distance and what can actually be seen far off, I’ve found that looking at Google Earth helps!”

Husband and wife artists Anna and Richard Poynter were both exhibiting their paintings and hand-crafted works. Richard, making sleek wooden clocks and Anna making mosaics of wildlife amongst other things. And while both clearly shared a love of painting, their own personalities shone through in their individual styles of work.

Leanne Simmons’ passion for wildlife and nature is evident in her almost dreamy paintings in oils and watercolours. She says that she strives to produce vibrant, emotion-provoking pieces of art. Something which I have to say, she certainly achieves.

Meanwhile, Louise Hutton exhibited some stunning portraits – not least was her version of David Bowie’s iconic Ziggy Stardust look. She also creates large acrylic paintings of cars such as the Aston Martin and famous celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, Amy Winehouse and George Harrison in a pop art style.

Finally, for our visit we chatted to Melanie Dearing, a trained architect who has been painting all her life, but recently has been concentrating on boats and harbours for their shapes and colours. Her striking canvasses revealed the fact that she is currently painting in just five colours – red, yellow, blue, black with a white background.

No doubt your visit will discover your own favourite artists and works of art. All were unique but had two things in common. All the artists lived in Kenilworth at the heart of the Midlands, and all are passionate about art.

This free exhibition which runs until Sunday 4^th July is in conjunction with Warwickshire Open Studios, www.wostudios.org

Discover more about Kenilworth artists on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenilworthartists

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenilworth_artists/

This article was first published in B-C-ing-U on-line magazine:  https://b-c-ing-u.com/art/meet-the-kenilworth-artists/

If any Kenilworth artists would like high res copies of any of the images published here or on B-C-ing-U, please email Rob:  robert.tysall@outlook.com   

More images here and at B-C-ing_U.com