Ear as objet d'art
The artist recreated Van Gogh's ear using family DNA
A "living copy" of the left ear of the artist Vincent Van Gogh is on display in one of the museums of the German city of Karlsruhe. To create it, the artist Demut Strebe used genetic (obviously cellular – VM) material provided by Lieuwe van Gogh, the great–grandson of Vincent's brother Theo and the son of the murdered film director Theo van Gogh.
The artist calls the ear "a living work of art." In the museum's exposition, it is displayed under the affectionate name "Honey" (Sugababe). From the point of view of genetics, this is the closest possible copy of the ear, which is believed to have been cut off by Van Gogh in a fit of madness. In addition, Demut Strebe tried to make it match the original outwardly.
Self-portrait with a bandaged ear and a tube. Arles, January 1889. Oil on canvas, 51x45
The artist used the technology developed by American scientists Robert Langer and Charles Vacanti, who in 1995 successfully grew a human ear on the back of a mouse.
It took more than three years to create a "live" exhibit. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has officially disowned the controversial project.
As noted in the press release of the Karlsruhe Museum, the ear is part of the installation. It is connected to a computer and thanks to certain programs you can "talk" to it. However, the conversation can only take place in the form of a monologue – the ear cannot answer.
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05.06.2014