Pokémon Collaboration With Van Gogh Museum Announced, New Merch Incoming

I find the mass-commercialization of prominent artists after their death very depressing.

As someone who lives close to Amsterdam, I'm curious to say the least.

@Cashews
It has been ~130 years since he died. Anyone can draw a variation of 'Starry Night' and put it on a T-Shirt without getting sued, which is better than getting legally screwed over by some copyright law.

Odd but I am a sucker for a bit of post-impressionism.

This is...
Nah I'm dreaming. I'm going back to sleep, bye.

This is another thing The Pokémon Company will turn into a hashtag. #Jet #TradingCard

Different things in life may warrant the application of different levels of seriousness.

I'd suggest a link-up between Pokémon and a museum as not requiring a great deal of serious contemplation. If it upsets you then I'd suggest you take some time to reflect on how you view and respond to certain things in life and whether you could experiment with looking on the brighter side of things a bit more and see where that takes you.

@nukatha I get it - it just makes me sad. Gogh lived such an oppressive life to have his work reduced to selling some bull**** with a cartoon electric rat just bums me out. The museum taking part really nails it home. nothing to be done about it.

Maybe this is why Kafka never wanted his writing published.

Holland-inspired region confirmed. Starter Pokemon are Hikite, a grass type Pokemon, Tyoolip, which is a fire type that changes color depending on their initial moveset, and Stolybike, a water type bike looking thing that's found in canals.

@Cashews Such a sardonic view of the artist and creativity. What fault can there possibly be in introducing children to the works of Van Gogh. The more interest there is in the arts, the better. As for Kafka —the writer doesn't always know best— that's the job of a good editor and good publisher. Kafka wasn't concerned about fame and commercialisation—he suffered from crippling depression and self doubt.

This is... random. Just random enough to go and see when it comes.

I do wonder, will the next Pokémon gen be based on the Netherlands, because that would be very cool indeed.

@AnalogWave "Such a sardonic view"

Yes.

Question - did you need cartoon characters doing product placement to introduce you to finer arts? I was introduced by my parents, schools, libraries and maturity. i think being introduced by something to sell you a tshirt does more harm than good. It associates the art with commercialism when the mind can barely distinguish between the two. It really can'.t. I see this every day with my 7 and 9 YO daughters.

Put a KFC bucket in the arms of the Mona Lisa, put a Yankees cap and a Messi jersey on David because it'll get the kids in.

Imo, it really won't. It cheapens the art.

What’s next? Edvard Munch Happy Meals?

I'm disappointed in all of you for missing the obvious "Pokemon Gogh" pun.

This is utterly disgusting to say the least. Let the poor man rest in peace for a second, for Christ sake.

@EllaTheQueen6 welcome to the internet

Still waiting for the Lowry-Where's Wally collaboration.

@Cashews Regrettably art has always been about commercialism to some extent—not 'outsider art' but that is a different topic of discussion. Capitalism is the substrate on which the world runs. As the philosopher Zizek says, "Its easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism". All writers want to be read, just as all artists want to be seen—it's a foundational quality of human nature—to want to be seen. Capitalism eats everything, devours it, then regurgitates some new fangled rendition. Granted, the results vary but sometimes we have to make do with what we get. If a child goes to the VG museum because of Pokemon, then goes home interested in VG's work and it inspires them to continue investigating, I count that as a victory. Capitalism is a dire state of existence no doubt but it's all there is. I've taught the arts for decades and what I've learnt is that the most important thing is to just get the student through the door—once they are inside you have the opportunity to nurture that initial curiosity and help it grow.

@Cashews I agree, but at the same time it's a temporary thing, whose goal must be to attract more children to the museum and be acquainted with Van Gogh's excellent art.

Private eye Pikachu might be the best thing I've ever seen.

@Cashews I think any artist would feel pride in their body of work inspring and influencing the mainstream. Alive or dead.

Van Gogh Pikachu has too many ears.

Van Gogh: “what the heck is a Pocket mon?”

Pokemon simultaneously collaborating with two of the most influential artists ever, Van Gogh and Hatsune Miku.

This is vary weird……….I’m not sure what else to say about it honestly lol.

A pikachu plush with one ear

@Cashews You must live a very sad life if this of all things upsets you. What's next? You going to get upset over the "Dr. Who" episode that's all about Van Gogh, 'cause that's no different from this; using a fictional character to get people interested in an artist. It shouldn't matter how children get interested in art, as long as they are interested is what matters in the end.

“Everywhere I go… I see Pokemon’s face.”

@Cashews. I really like your comment. Its introspective and makes you think about the value of art itself. Some people might think that no matter the path, the result is all that matters (like getting children to know Van Gogh art). But I am more inclined to agree with you in the sense that mass commercialism devours art of its essence and makes it a generic product.

I suspect this is not the case, but don't get discouraged by people that say that you have a pessimistic or sad view of things. Asking questions and doubting what we see and think is one of the wonders of art.

@Ability-King-KK Geez, you actually think they are depressed? Cashews is clearly exaggerating that part. Duh!

@Snatcher where do you find allthe purple fanart!? I swear every other week its a different purple girl from a wildly different genre of animation the whiplash of going from lois lane to ***** luz is insane

Welp that sucks. Atleast attendees get another cheap card to add to their ever growing pile of crap.

Meh. I probably would’ve been disappointed anyway.

@epicgamner This definitely one of the most flattering reactions I got to my edits! I dont really now how to express how it makes me feel, but it makes me feel happy for some reason!

Oh but your question, I edit them all myself. I just find fanart that I like and then I proceed to edit the color of their skin purple. Or sometimes there eyes yellow or even change the background.

This way I can keep my theme, have a character I like no matter what the image (If it works in purple that is) and keep my favorite color! And if you or anyone wants I can give out the name of the artist of the pfp I edit.

@Snatcher nice! nah you dont need to worry abt the artist i was just curious lol. Neat stuff though!

@epicgamner Thank you so much! Flattery is such a weakness of mine!

@Snatcher i think its a weakness of many lol

I'll wait for the Damien Hirst collection. Can't wait for half a Pikachu in a box 😂 in all seriousness though, why are people so upset by this? Its just art and Pokémon and people are going off on one as if they're personally affected by it.

Tickets booked. I hope they don't run out of promo cards before we get there. Haha.

People are going to be shocked when they find out museums have...gift shops of all things in order to turn over a profit

@Lizuka T’is a sickening insult that tramples all over Miku’s dark and troubled past. Let her rest in peace, for goodness’ sake. She suffered enough when she was alive!

As if enough cruelty had not been exacted by stripping the very voice from her lifeless corpse… Now she must suffer the indignity being reanimated and partnered with an insufferable electric rodent.

For shame! For shame! Woah is me! Woah! Woah!! Woaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!

Van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime. I can't imagine that he could ever fathom how influential and popular his works would become. I mean here we are in the 21st century and the most profitable media brand in the world is collaborating with your works of art. And that's just kinda par for the course when it comes to his works these days.