Artists Elmgreen and Dragset bring 'Van Gogh's Ear' to New York. By Nadja Sayej.
The Scandinavian duo have a unique take on the Dutch master’s famous lobe: a four-and-a-half ton swimming pool that will hang outside Rockefeller Center.
Wednesday is Vincent Van Gogh’s birthday and the Dutch painter, who was born in 1853, is making a comeback (of sorts) with a new biopic that hits cinemas this fall. He is also the subject of an unlikely public art piece entitled Van Gogh’s Ear. The Berlin art duo Elmgreen and Dragset created the ear-shaped swimming pool that opens on 13 April in New York City.
“It’s a piece about the memory of Van Gogh,” said Danish artist Michael Elmgreen on the phone from Berlin. “It’s not an exact proportion to his ear, but it resembles an ear.”
Probably the most well-worn art rumour is that Van Gogh cut off his earlobe in 1888 in France. Some historians say he did it in response to his brother’sengagement, others think Paul Gauguin did it during a fight...
