The Sunflower King Triptych

“A great fire burns within me, but no one stops to warm themselves at it, and passers-by only see a wisp of smoke.” -Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh is regarded as one of the most famous artists of the 19th century, however I’ve never followed the idea that he was always a poor starving man with a cloud of sadness always above him. Vincent Van Gogh was a disabled artist who navigated an able-centric society long before the awareness of disability. He not only used art as a form of expression but also as a powerful tool for healing and coping with his disability. As a disabled artist myself, I resonate with Vincent's experiences and finds solace in the healing power of art. Getting lost in the process of creating is a way I celebrate my disability as it reminds me of the abilities that manifest from my disability. 

This painting triptych is a master copy of Van Gogh’s original paintings, with addition of my elements to honor my favorite artistic genius. The painting on the right features The Yellow House from 1888, where Vincent wanted the yellow house to be an artists colony where artists could share space and collaborate. Vincent desired community and felt isolated which can be common for disabled people, being labeled as the awkward outcasts. The center painting features Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat from 1887, and on the left is Self-Portrait Dedicated to Paul Gaugain from 1888. I adorned both with crowns of flowers to honor his love of nature, especially the sunflower. On the right I positioned two sunflowers above his head almost like glasses, sunflower glasses for his love of yellow. During his lifetime, Vincent often felt like a financial burden to his family, a feeling that resonates with the disabled experience. I used gold paint to represent his passion for painting, which ultimately led to his family's generational wealth. Vincent has taught me how to passionately use color and to keep painting no matter what happens in life.