Europe

Museum displays ‘live’ Van Gogh ear grown from relative’s cells

Artist Diemut Strebe saus she wants to combine art and science with display

Vincent Van Gogh’s Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe, 1889 (oil on canvas). Photograph: Getty Images
Vincent Van Gogh’s Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe, 1889 (oil on canvas). Photograph: Getty Images
Tue Jun 03 2014 - 17:54

A German museum has put on display a “copy” of Vincent van Gogh’s ear that was grown using genetic material linked to the Dutch artist.

The 19th century painter is said to have cut off his own left ear during a psychotic episode in 1888.

The Centre for Art and Media in Karlsruhe says the ear consists of living cells grown from samples provided by Lieuwe van Gogh, the great-great-grandson of Vincent’s brother Theo.

The museum says Lieuwe and Vincent van Gogh share about one 16th of the same genes, including the Y chromosome that is passed down the male lineage.

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Artist Diemut Strebe said she wanted to combine art and science.

Strebe plans to display the ear in New York next year.

Press Association