Exhibition Matthew Wong | Vincent van Gogh

Matthew Wong started drawing and painting in 2011, at the age of 27. Within the space of just a few years, he developed a highly personal style, using intense colours to paint imaginative landscapes. Van Gogh was a great source of inspiration for Wong. His influence is unmistakable, in terms of use of colour, the thickly applied brushwork and the personal themes in Wong’s work.

This exhibition explores the artistic and personal connection between the two artists in more detail. Wong saw his own life reflected in that of Van Gogh, and once said:

‘I see myself in him. The impossibility of belonging in this world.’

Last Resort

Van Gogh and Wong both had a lengthy search to find their calling in life, which ultimately proved to be painting. Wong even saw it as his ‘last resort’. Both artists struggled with their mental health, resulting in tragic, untimely deaths. Although there are many similarities, each created a body of highly individual work that is highly personal and emotionally charged.

Unlike Van Gogh, Wong’s talent was more widely recognised during his short and tempestuous career. Barely five years after he made his first work, a renowned museum acquired a painting by Wong, and many notable collectors followed suit.

Matthew Wong | Vincent van Gogh: Painting as a Last Resort is the first retrospective of Wong’s work in Europe.

‘One of the most talented painters of his generation.’
The New York Times, 2019

Introduction film

Especially for the exhibition, Mals Media created a film introducing Matthew Wong. Exclusive visuals and interviews with the artist’s friends and colleagues bring you closer to Wong. What drove him as an artist, and what made him so special?

In silence with Matthew Wong

Experience how it feels to take your time to truly focus on an artwork. View Wong’s Path to the Sea in silence, in the dedicated gallery on the top floor.

Audio tour

This exhibition is accompanied by a unique audio tour: celebrated podcaster and theatre maker Simon Heijmans wrote a poetic audio story especially for the exhibition. In a ‘Letter to Matthew’, he invites visitors on a personal voyage of discovery through the exhibition.

The audio tour is available in Dutch and English, and is bookable when purchasing an online ticket. If you would like to discover the exhibition in a different language, listen to the most important gallery texts in one of the eleven available languages.

Music

Matthew Wong also loved music. His favourite artists included Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix and Drake. Listen to the playlist to discover Wong's favourite songs.

Painting workshops

Create your own fantasy room, inspired by the many rooms that Matthew Wong painted. You will practice using different media, including acrylics and oil pastel, and the dot technique, which Wong also used.

Guided tours

Delve deeper into the exhibition, and discover the stories hidden behind the artworks. Book a private guided tour of the exhibition, or join a guided tour on the day.

Publication

The exhibition catalogue Wong | Vincent van Gogh: Painting as a Last Resort explores the connection between Matthew Wong and Vincent van Gogh, bridging a 130-year gap in art history. The book is available in Dutch and English.

Gallery texts

The gallery texts for this exhibition are now also available in an accessible PDF. Prefer not to read from a screen? A booklet with the collated gallery texts, printed in large font, is available at the Information Desk in the Atrium.

Kunsthaus Zürich

After 1 September 2024 this exhibition will travel to Kunsthaus Zürich. The exhibition Matthew Wong – Vincent van Gogh will there be on display from 20 September 2024 until 26 January 2025.