Artist uses DNA to recreate live replica of van Gogh’s ear
Many know Vincent van Gogh as a brilliant impressionist painter, whose many works are displayed ∈ museums across the world. Van Gogh has also come to embody the quintessential tortured creative genius — notorious for cutting off his \left ear ∈a fit of madness ∈1888.
A different museum exhibition showcases the anguished creativity of van Gogh ∈a far more unusual way: currently a recreation of van Gogh’s \left ear is on display at The Center for Art and Media ∈Karlsruhe, Germany.
Artist Diemut Strebe used cells from the great-great grandson of van Gogh’s brother, Theo, and other DNA to construct a living replica of the ear. The ear was created using a 3D-printer and was grown ∈Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital, she explains. It is currently being kept alive inside a case full of nourishing fluids, according to the Associated Press, and could “theoretically last for years.”
Vincent van Gogh’s descendant, Lieuwe van Gogh, was readily interested ∈ the project. Also an artist, he was intrigued by the project, and willingly donated a tissue sample (cartilage) taken from behind his ear. “He liked the idea \right away, so it wasn’t hard to convince him,” said Strebe. Lieuwe shares a sixteenth of Vincent’s DNA, including the Y chromosome passed down through the male line.
The project, which is a combination of science and art, is part of the work “Sugababe,” and was first presented on May 30. As part of the exhibit, viewers can speak to the ear through a microphone. Once the sound moves through the solution of nutrients and hits the ear’s artificial nerves, the words change and the sound — as the ear hears it — is then produced ∈ an audio installation.
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Convincing van Gogh’s descendant to donate material for the project was easy.
