Tortured soul Vincent van Gogh is an artistic genius who has had his moments of madness, and I am quite sure that a fair number of us have heard about how he cut off his own ear. Well, could it be possible that a copy of Vincent van Gogh’s ear is actually available in this day and age? The answer is yes, where a copy of the artist’s ear has been specially grown based on genetic material taken from one of the Dutch master’s relatives. This unique piece of “art”, so to speak, has even gone on display over at a German museum.
The whole idea is based on artist Diemut Strebe’s intention to come up with a replica that comprises of living cells from Lieuwe van Gogh, who happens to be the great-great-grandson of Vincent’s brother Theo. The cells were shaped with a 3D printer in order to resemble the ear that was allegedly cut off by Van Gogh himself back in 1888. Those who are interested will be able to check out this strange exhibit over at the Centre for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, at least until July 6th.
Growing the ear required tissue-engineered cartilage, where the process took place at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital before it was sculpted to resemble that of Van Gogh’s thanks to modern day computer imaging technology. This ear will deteriorate unless it is kept in a nutrient solution that on paper, is able to last for years.
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