You are looking inside the dark, gloomy brownish interior of a simple cottage. Under the low light of a single source of light there is a table around which five humble members of a hard working peasant family are gathered. One holds out a cup of tea as a lady gently pours for everyone. At the other end you can see a big plate of potatoes which they are all sharing. There is a sense of gloom, hardship, and struggle but you feel the humanity, humility, and purity of these beings.
Step outside and transport yourself to a beautiful vineyard in Arles, in the south of France. It is early evening during autumn. The fields are full of people at work as the brilliant seasonal colors of red and yellow pop out at you and the yellow of the sun reflects in the flowing river nearby.
Now lets head back into town and imagine a fictitious cafe in Arles. There are quite a few interesting characters gathered. There is the kind postmaster, Joseph, dressed in his blue uniform with one arm resting on a table. Close is his wife, Augustine, sitting with a maternal pose in a rocking chair. She is wearing a green dress and the wallpaper behind her is decorated with some flowers. Also present is Dr. Paul resting his head on his right arm. He is tired and melancholy but gentle and intelligent. In the corner by the fireplace there is a bald, old working man elbows on his knees and holding his head in his hands. Fantastically, there also seems to be a Japanese courtesan in the cafe wearing a kimono!
Postmaster Joseph is talking to his friend, a serious looking man holding a canvas and some painting equipment. They walk out together towards the painter’s yellow house. Inside the house you see beautiful paintings of sunflowers and also notice two chairs. The simpler chair with the pipe and tobacco on top belongs to the painter himself, Vincent. The other chair with the books and candle belongs to his friend Paul, another painter.
Suddenly it is night time and you find yourself a witness to an unfathomable cosmic drama. The sky and stars are in a state of flux. There are hills beneath which is a small village with some olives trees on the side. There is also a dark, foreboding cypress tree pointing towards the sky. The air is full of restless rhythms. Everything flows, swirls, and undulates. What does it all mean?
Every scene is a juxtaposition of yellow and blue. Finally, you see a blue sky, yellow wheat fields, flying black crows, and three endless paths. Where are we headed?
Your imagination just briefly went on a quick tour of Vincent Van Gogh’s more famous paintings. To experience a much deeper journey inside the turbulent mind of this brilliant painter I invite you to visit Beyond Van Gogh, the immersive experience coming to Portland, Oregon on November 19th. State of the art audio/visual technology brings alive his paintings as you step inside them and listen to his own words set to a symphonic score. I am headed inside Vincent’s mind, will you join me?
