Upon arriving in Arles for the first time, every visitor is filled
with thoughts of Vincent van Gogh and the remarkable painter he
was. It is here that he discovered the light of the Midi and
found the inspiration for many of his finest works. It was to be
a rich period for him, one that lasted until his death, two years
later, in Auvers-sur-Oise. What is left of the time Vincent van
Gogh spent in Arles, what became of his project to create an Atelier
of the Midi ?. Since 1983, in the course of various trips abroad
and in France, I have found myself struggling time and again to
answer questions such as these about the painter's dream of a brotherly
community of artists.
"Are
there any works by van Gogh in your city ? Is there a sense of gratitude
and loyalty to him for the time he spent in Arles ?"
There are
few traces left of van Gogh in Arles : the house he lived in was
destroyed by bombing during the Second World War. The little yellow
house on place Lamartine now exists only in his paintings. One hundred
years after his death, I decided to honor his memory by trying to
fulfill his original intentions. Encouragement for this adventure
came to me through the letters which Vincent exchanged with his
brother Theo in 1888 : "May a community of artists be formed
in Arles...". My friends urged me on; Jacqueline Picasso gave
me her personnal support. Picasso himself was very attached to the
personality of van Gogh and always kept a clipping in his wallet
with an article from the local press reporting that a poor madman,
a painter from Holland, had cut off his ear and offered this precious
object to a "tenant" at a nearby brothel.
In
1985, I contacted the painter Francis Bacon to ask him if he would
make a painting on the theme of van Gogh. His agreement was both
prompt and enthusiastic.With remarkable humility, he used a painting
of Vincent's that had been destroyed during the war as the basis
for a work showing the painter walking on the road to Tarascon,
accompanied by his shadow. A short time later, he offered a poster
to celebrate the centennial of the artist's arrival in Arles (1888-1988).
Francis Bacon's generous gesture gave me new strength. His support
helped me to better withstand the incomprehension that often greeted
my project.
Other
French and foreign artists followed suit : painters, sculptors,
photographers, and musicians. Writers and poets offered their tribute.
The Arlesian fashion designer, Christian Lacroix, dedicated two
of his designs inspired from his symphonic poem "Starry night",
based on the painting of the same name. Each gift was made in a
gesture of total fraternity and generosity : everyone wished to
contribute to this gathering in the name of the one who remained
alone.
One
hundred years after his death, his wish is taking shape. We might
reflect on Schiller's redemptive statement : "Life is serious,
art is gay". While the name van Gogh alone is enough to send
stock market speculations into a rapid upward spiral, here in Arles
the painter has received a gift offered, for the first time, by
his true family. A collection has been born. The centennial may
last only a year, but the works exist and they are here forever.
What we can do for Vincent is so little compared to the immense
body of works he has given to the world. His universality is intact,
it honors us.