“Always continue walking a lot and loving nature, for that’s the real way to learn to understand art better and better. Painters understand nature and love it, and teach us to see.” – Vincent van Gogh, January 1874
Artery Foundation and the Van Gogh Museum joined forces for the art project Van Gogh Mile, a specially devised walking route in Amsterdam that started at the Van Gogh Museum and ended at the Hermitage Amsterdam. The route, designed by the artist Henk Schut is enriched by a smartphone app. The Mile led visitors along an inspiring path to the Van Gogh Museum’s temporary location (due to essential renovation works) at the Hermitage Amsterdam. With the city of Amsterdam as his background, Schut’s work in the public space will stimulate walkers’ senses with audio artworks, virtual apparitions, text and images, inspired by the letters of Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890). A taut red line over sixteen feet above the ground indicates the direction of the 1.4-mile route, forging a physical link between the Van Gogh Museum and the Hermitage Amsterdam. Like the perspective frame Vincent used himself, the red line and the app direct your eye, opening your mind.
Now that the exhibition Vincent – The Van Gogh Museum in the Hermitage has ended, so has the walk, on 25 April 2013. The Van Gogh Mile App still allows you to experience the world through Vincent’s ideas and visions. The app can be downloaded for free. From the AppStore and from GooglePlay.
The Van Gogh Mile has been made possible by the generous support of:
VSBfonds and Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, as well as Boels Rental and Wacom Europe.
