Van Gogh Monuments in Brabant

This six-metre-high mural by the Den Bosch-based artist Eric van Boxtel focuses on Van Gogh’s social circle: “The mural depicts Vincent van Gogh as an energetic artist and passionate individual, surrounded by a representation of the people who were close to him,” explains Eric.

This work is by graffiti artist Erik Veldmeijer. ‘The Sunflower Girl’, a mural measuring five by six metres, can now be seen on Ringbaan Noord in Tilburg. “The story behind the Van Gogh mural is inspired by Van Gogh’s sunflowers. It depicts a ‘Girl with Sunflowers’ holding a watering can, watering herself and thereby symbolising the cycle of life,” says Erik.

This 130-metre-long mural, created by Joren Joshua, is a tribute to ‘Vincent van Gogh’s forgotten brother’ and the Backer & Rueb engineering works in Breda. The mural features a man with bright orange hair; this is Cornelius (Cor) van Gogh, Vincent van Gogh’s younger brother. Like Vincent, Cor led an eventful life.

In Eindhoven, Julien Crevaels drew inspiration from the rural surroundings where Van Gogh lived – the characteristic landscape that also features in his paintings: pollarded willows, farmhouses and meadows. The artwork is on display in a tunnel that forms the underpass of one of the old roads between Nuenen and Eindhoven, along which Van Gogh often walked from his parents’ home to the station.

Artist Ilse Weisfelt has drawn inspiration from the labourers depicted in Van Gogh’s paintings. This theme is explored in a contemporary style on the four pillars. The pillars can be viewed individually, but they also form a connection. One side always depicts the ‘labourer’, whilst the other side features a variation on the Brabant landscape – the little church that Van Gogh often painted, logs and fields.