Amsterdam, Pokémon invade the Van Gogh Museum

Pokémon, it is known, is a phenomenon that took off in the mid-1990s and has never stopped appealing to millions of players worldwide thanks to the video games that landed on Nintendo consoles. Perhaps it should come as no surprise that the famous pocket monsters are now the stars of a special exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Amsterdam institution has, in fact, opened a new exhibition from Sept. 28, 2023, to Jan. 7, 2024, in which Pokémon invade the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh. From Pikachu wearing a straw hat just like the artist in his self-portrait to Sunflora posing together with Sunflowers via Snorlax and Munchlax staying overnight in the Bedroom, there are six paintings that The Pokémon Company ’s official artists have created for the Pokémon at the Van Gogh Museum exhibition.

Both the works of Vincent van Gogh and Pokémon have a special connection to Japanese art and culture. Japanese prints had a profound impact on Vincent’s art and his worldview. Speaking to his brother Theo in a letter in September 1888, Vincent said, “And we would not be able to study Japanese art, it seems to me, without becoming much happier and cheerful, and this brings us back to nature, in spite of our education and our work in a world of conventions.”

“This collaboration will allow the next generation to learn about the art and story of Vincent van Gogh in a whole new way,” says Director General Emilie Gordenker, adding “the Van Gogh Museum and The Pokémon Company International have drawn from many years of educational practice to create a special experience for children, their guardians, and hopefully all visitors.”

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A Pokémon Adventure handout will lead young visitors to discover the works of Vincent van Gogh that served as inspiration for the paintings in the exhibition. During the activity, visitors will learn about the museum and the stories behind the paintings. Upon completion of the Pokémon Adventure activity, participants can turn in their completed flyer for a special Pikachu x Van Gogh Museum promotional card (subject to availability). The Pokémon Adventure flyer is available in Dutch and English.

Also available to the public are educational materials on the relationship between Vincent van Gogh and Japan. The artist greatly admired everything about Japan, and Japanese prints taught him to look at the world differently. Using Pokémon materials as a starting point, students will learn about the connection between Van Gogh and Japan and how inspiration can go in two directions. The learning materials are available in Dutch and English on the Van Gogh at School platform. A guided video activity will also be available that will teach visitors how to draw the fan-favorite Pokémon Pikachu and encourage them to try it for themselves. In addition, the Van Gogh Museum Shop (inside the museum and online) and the Pokémon Center online store will feature an exclusive range of Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum products.

Director of Licensing at The Pokémon Company International, Mathieu Galante, commented, “We are always looking for great partners with whom to create unique and joyful experiences for Pokémon fans, and we have really discovered this by working with the Van Gogh Museum. There is a strong connection between the inspiration behind Pokémon and the inspiration behind some of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous works. With this collaboration, we really hope to see children discover and immerse themselves in the world of art through the incredible works of Van Gogh and Pokémon.”

For all information, you can visit the official website of the Van Gogh Museum.

Amsterdam, Pokémon invade the Van Gogh Museum

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