Inspiration - a work in the making
And then I saw the light…

Not often one sees the presentation of a new work of art before
it is finished, but the work "inspiration by Jan van Gogh
is already fascinating in its development process.

Jan van Gogh is a well-known and renounced artist from the Netherlands,
An artist who has mastered many means of expression
He not only uses the classical means of expression,
but frequently he also resolves to less common materials
like technical glass. Thus he searches for and finds ways
to express his fascination of the blending of man and nature
and the female element

This creative drive has now itself become the theme
of a new work of art, named "Inspiration"

This work in the making, "Inspiration" is a symbol
for creation and inspiration
Creation and inspiration are often confused.
However, they are both separate processes
In which the creation is the actual process of making,
but the inpiration is more the imaginative process
which preceeds the creation, the origin, the idea...

Jan van Gogh has chosen for the structures of our brain
as a visual basis for his expression
the lobes of our brain, inside the skull
It was never intended to produce an image
which is anatomically correct.
Rather more the intention is to use the structure of the lobes
as elements in a construction, and next to use these elements freely
in the final work of art
These elements will be cast in bronze.

In order to visualize the process of thought generation
and signal transfer, the construction from bronze elements
is to be supplemented with controllable light-emitting cell elements,
for instance using LED's
Thus the viewer passing by will be struck from time to time
by a volatile thought, a flash of inspiration....

.I.N.S.P.I.R.A.T.I.O.N.

In a pre-study, consisting of a number of sessions with a neurologist
the artist has tried to come up with a way to visualize
how the inspiration is processed in our central nerve system
how the various synapses in different parts of our brain are triggered,
how the different centra for vreativity, emotion and thoughts
are involved in this, and how they communicate with each other

The first bronze elements have already been cast,
so the construction can grow into its final shape

The construction should be mounted floating in the air
on glass- and polymer plates
At some positions, the glass should be grit-blasted
to apply local structures
The light elements should give the whole construction
a dynamic character

"Inspiration" is a work of art which intends to inspire
people who are working in a designer's environment
The work can act as a source of creative energy
near the reception or central hall of a company
for people to stroll around and through it
Because it is not a completed concept and
because of its modular construction,
adaptations are possible for tuning it to the appropriate vibration

The work consists of a painted plane with bronze and glass elements
combined with tratces of light
The painted elements is manufactured in poly-urethane laquer
which by its special characteristics gives the impression
of the cerebral lobes



The bronze and glass elements are cast and mounted
on top of the base plate

Also envisaged are traces of light elements,
Indicated as "A" "B" and "C":
These traces are indicated in yellow, blue and red

Trail "A" concerns the rhytm of the heartbeat
with a timing accordingto this rhytm and a warm yellow tint
This trail indicates the background activity of the heartbeat
and the flow of blood through the brain
This trail will work continuously,
to support the vital functions of the object

Trail "B" is concerned with a chain of thoughts in blue light elements
This trail is being built up in one second
and symbolises the occurrence of a thought
It will be triggered at a random moment in time
analogous to the "shuffling" of music

Trail "C" concerns the rise to consciousness:
The flashing of an idea in red light elements.
When a new idea is born,
the red lights will flash on and off:
A thought flashes into consciousness.
A new idea is born!


After this, the neural center for idea-generation
goeds into the resting mode
After a few moments of slowly dimming red light
the idea center is turned off
Of course the heartbeat continues
This way, the vital functions of this work of art are preserved.


For your own piece of inspiration


contact the artist by E-mail

Information about Jan van Gogh