Sense of Self Online Exhibition
Responses to Vincent van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear from Schools, Young People, Community and Family programmes at The Courtauld
The acclaimed British artist Rachel Jones (born 1991) recently created two site-specific paintings for the entrance of the Courtauld Gallery. At the same time and at the Learning team’s request, she chose one of the works in the collection, Vincent van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889, on view on the 3rd floor), as the springboard for a new creative project.
Over 450 people from 21 schools, colleges and community groups took part in the Sense of Self project. They researched Van Gogh’s and Jones’s paintings during free workshops and events, and created artworks exploring their own ‘sense of self’.
This online exhibition presents some of these responses. This accompanies the current exhibition displayed in the Project Space in the Courtauld Gallery. Both demonstrate the power of Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait 136 years after its creation and the new interpretations that arise when it is seen through the eyes of contemporary artist.
Individual Responses
Schools, Colleges, Families and Community Groups
Thank you
The Courtauld’s Learning programmes aim to increase access to art and art history across the UK. These free programmes inspire learning and enjoyment, and most importantly, invite each year over 10,000 children, young people and adults from all backgrounds to take part in and shape the field of art history.
In addition to the participants, we would like to thank the teachers, community group leaders, parents and guardians who have led, supported and inspired the Sense of Self project. Without their commitment to championing the role of art and art history in education, this exhibition, and our wider work, would not have
been possible.
We would like to congratulate participants from the following schools, colleges and community organisations whose creativity and artworks are displayed in this exhibition and online:
Anfield Road Primary School (IntoUniversity, North Liverpool)
Archbishop Tenison’s CofE High School (Croydon)
Big Creative Academy (Walthamstow)
Burntwood School (Wandsworth)
Callywith College (Cornwall)
Coin Street Over 50s Art Group (Waterloo and North Southwark)
Christ the King Catholic High School (Preston)
Elstree Screen Arts Academy (Hertfordshire)
Kingsdale Foundation School (West Dulwich)
Lord Grey Academy (Milton Keynes)
New City College (Tower Hamlets)
Maria Fidelis Catholic School (Camden)
Sacred Heart Catholic School (Camberwell)
SMart Network (community group, London)
St Edward’s Catholic Primary School (Westminster)
Townley Grammar School for Girls (Bexley)
Varndean College (Brighton)
Welshpool High School (Powys)
Ysgol Treffynnon (Holywell, Flintshire)
We also extend sincere thanks to our funders, Oak Foundation and Yoav Gottesman – London, for their generous support.
