Late as it may be, I finally watched the movie “Van Gogh ~ The Last Letter ~”.
The newly opened TOHO Cinemas Ueno was already sold out for early time slots due to its popularity right after opening. There were only a few seats left for the dubbed version, so I managed to secure tickets at the last minute and was able to watch it. Apparently it’s a popular film.
This film is a world-first attempt that has been the topic of discussion: the entire film is composed of moving oil paintings. Moreover, it was created with such effort—actual footage was filmed and then rendered as oil paintings, equivalent to the work of two films.
125 artists from around the world were involved in the production! A total of 62,450 oil paintings were created!! The production process was uploaded to YouTube, so I’ll embed it here.
It’s a mind-boggling amount of work. A round of applause for all the artists involved!
Participation from Japan
And, remarkably, there was one artist from Japan who participated. The painter is Yoko Koga.
https://yokokoga.jimdo.com/
Yoko Koga applied on her own initiative and proved to be a skilled artist who passed the rigorous selection process.
In early April 2016, I filled out an application form and attached images of oil paintings I had created so far. I was then contacted to come to Poland to take the recruitment exam. I immediately went to Poland and took the recruitment exam starting on May 30th, underwent training which served as a second screening, and was accepted. I stayed in Poland and continued to paint.
The original title of the film is “Loving Vincent”. Yoko Koga appears to be a painter who loves Van Gogh as well.
Yoko Koga – Brief Biography
1986 Born in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture
2005-2006 United Kingdom – Studied the fundamentals of fine art, design, printmaking and general art at the foundation course at The University College for the Creative Arts (now UCA University of the Creative Arts)
2008-2009 Italy – Studied fine art and anatomy at Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze (Florence National Academy of Fine Arts). Concurrently engaged in Madonnara (street painting) activities alongside her studies
2010-2013 Italy – Studied classical Russian oil painting technique, drawing, anatomy, and composition at Russian Academy of Art in Florence (now Florence Academy of Russian Art)
Current Based in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, active both domestically and internationally
Recommended Points About the Film
There are several points worth recommending about this film, but above all, it would have to be the “undulating movement of oil paintings crawling across the screen.” Rather than a film, it feels like a novel sensory experience of oil paintings moving.
Including the monochrome segments inserted throughout, Van Gogh’s painting colors move freely across the screen, and it’s exciting.
Now that I think about it, since the film is based on paintings, the film’s aspect ratio is close to 4:3, like a canvas. It feels like watching an old television, and there’s a peculiar sense of time travel about it.
The story unfolds as the truth behind Van Gogh’s suicide is investigated by gathering testimonies from people involved. The scattered puzzle pieces eventually come together into one truth, leading to a kind of happy ending.
Summary
Only one of his paintings was sold during his lifetime, and he created 800 works over 8 years. Van Gogh, who died young, might have gained recognition much sooner if the internet and social media had existed back then. Then again, it may have been precisely because he was able to devote himself to creating art in a remote French town that his talent was able to flourish…
The concurrent exhibition “Van Gogh Exhibition – Japanese Dreams in Transition” was also an excellent show.
https://burart.jp/gogh-japan-2017/
본작은, 전편이 움직이는 유화로 구성된다는 세계 최초의 시도로 화제의 영화입니다. 게다가 실사로 촬영한 것을 유화로 제작한다는 작품 2개분에 해당하는 정도의 수고를 들여 만들어진 것입니다.
참여한 미술 작가는 세계 각국에서 125명! 그려진 유화는 무려 62,450장!! 제작 과정이 YouTube에 업로드되어 있어서 붙여드립니다.
기가 막힐 정도의 작업입니다. 작가 여러분께 박수를 드립니다!
일본에서도 참여
그리고, 우리 일본에서도 1명이 참여한 작가님이 있었습니다. 화가의 고가 요코 씨입니다.
https://yokokoga.jimdo.com/
고가 요코 씨는 직접 신청해서 어려운 관문을 통과한 실력자였습니다.
2016년 4월 초순에, 응모 양식에 입력하고 지금까지 그린 유화 작품의 이미지를 첨부해서 응모했더니, 폴란드에 채용 시험을 보러 오라는 연락이 왔고, 곧바로 폴란드에 가서 5월 30일부터 채용 시험을 받고, 트레이닝이라는 이름의 2차 시험을 받아, 채용되었습니다. 그대로 폴란드에 남아서 그림을 그리게 되었습니다.
영화의 원제는 「Loving Vincent」. 고가 요코 씨도 고흐를 좋아하는 화가인 것 같네요.
고가 요코 약력
1986 효고현 니시노미야 시 출신
2005-2006 영국 The University College for the Creative Arts（현 UCA 예술대학）의 foundation course에서 파인아트, 디자인, 판화 등 미술 전반의 기초를 배우다
2008-2009 이탈리아 Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze（피렌체 국립미술대학）에서 파인아트, 해부학을 배우다. 학업과 병행하여 마돈나라（스트릿 페인팅） 활동을 하다
2010-2013 이탈리아 Russian Academy of Art in Florence（현 Florence Academy of Russian Art）에서 고전적인 러시아 기법에 기초한 유화, 드로잉, 해부학, 구도를 배우다
현재 효고현 니시노미야 시를 거점으로 국내외에서 활동 중
영화의 추천 포인트
영화의 추천 포인트는 여러 가지가 있습니다만, 무엇보다도 「물결치듯 화면을 흐르는 유화의 움직임」이 아닐까요? 영화라기보다 유화가 움직이는 듯한 새로운 감각입니다.
곳곳에 삽입되는 흑백 부분도 포함해서, 고흐 회화의 색채가 자유자재로 움직이고 있어서 설레입니다.
그런데, 회화를 기반으로 하고 있어서, 영화의 사이즈（화각）는 캔버스처럼 4:3에 가까운 사이즈입니다. 옛날 텔레비전을 보는 듯한 기분도 들고, 묘한 타임트래블 감각이 있었습니다.
스토리는 고흐 자살의 진상을 관계자들의 증언을 모으면서 진상을 규명해나가는 것입니다. 흩어져 있던 퍼즐이 결국 하나의 사실로 정리되어, 어떤 종류의 해피엔딩을 맞습니다.
정리
생전에 팔린 그림이 1장이고, 그린 작품이 8년간 800장. 젊은 나이에 세상을 떠난 고흐는 인터넷이나 SNS가 있었다면, 더 빨리 유명해졌을지도 모르겠네요. 물론 프랑스 시골 마을에서 제작에 몰두할 수 있었기에 피어난 재능일 수도 있습니다만···.
동시에 개최하고 있는 「고흐 전 순회하는 일본의 꿈」도 좋은 전시회였습니다.
https://burart.jp/gogh-japan-2017/
