Vincent Van Gogh
Painting by William Rock
Poetry by Huang Xiang
Translation of Huang Xiang's poetry, written in Chinese calligraphy on painting:
The painting holds high like torches
Sunflowers turning high-heaven's blazing
SUN
To burn up the magnificent painting spirit
SUN
To burn up the magnificent painting spirit
stopped by a bullet
To burn down the temple of golden yellow
Opaque color -
Opaque color -
dabs like clots of Blood
Gush fiery tears
Struggling lines feverishly erupt,
Gush fiery tears
Struggling lines feverishly erupt,
twitching like raw nerves
The back view of a giant
Reappears
~ Huang Xiang
Starry Night
by Vincent Van Gogh
An example of using a visual image to enhance meaning through the collective memory of a community exists within Vincent Van Gogh’s painting, Starry Night. He places iconic, celestial figures: moon, sun, stars, as the focal point, disproportionate to the small, darkened village. With wide, brush strokes, he creates a memory in the form of movement that transcends the primary source of his painting, that of the cosmic link between the silent structures of society and the dichotomy of chaos and structure found in nature.
He paints contrasts of light and dark, structure and non-structure, illuminating his audience of the need to consider his idea of the bleak constraints in many organized religions. Thus, he paints a challenge for the members of his society to consider personal enlightenment as an action that illumines the darkness of the soul.
Through actively engaging in a positive response to our daily struggles, we become enlightened and aware of the chaos as seen in the brilliant, night sky. Once enlightened (or saved), we can attempt to make positive choices to help this world become more balanced and orderly, following the precepts set before us through our foundational beliefs. In this painting, Van Gogh illustrates his personal connection with the vast beauty of nature and many possibilities through spiritual enlightenment.
