Pokemon fans! The long-awaited Pokemon x Van Gogh collaboration has just dropped on 28 September 2023. This is not the first time the world-renowned franchise had collaborated with a well-known artist! Cue the wildly successful collaboration with Edvard Munch which featured Pokemon like Pikachu, Eevee, and Rowlet in Munch's iconic painting: The Scream. But this time, it will be with Vincent Van Gogh at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam!
This exhibition will run from 28 September 2023 to 7 January 2024.
The collaboration between the Van Gogh Museum and Pokemon was announced by the official Pokemon channel on Youtube, where they dropped a 39-second video of Pikachu and Eevee running through a field of sunflowers (Van Gogh's countless sunflower paintings reference)! The sky then changes texture to mimic Van Gogh's iconic brushwork, and a teaser of what is to come was shown for a few seconds.
Why collaborate?
Pokemon and Van Gogh seem out of the blue, but it is more fitting than you think! Van Gogh was greatly influenced by Japanese art in the Edo Period (such as The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai or Geishas in a Landscape by Sato Torakiyo).
Credit: Google Arts and Culture
This collaboration comes with the 50th anniversary of the Van Gogh Museum and aims to teach young people about Van Gogh's work and how he was influenced by Japanese art. The museum's general director, Emilie Gordenker stated how this collaboration will be a fresh way for the young to learn more about art and intends for the exhibition to be a special experience.
What does the collaboration have?
Credit: The Official Pokemon Channel on Youtube
The exhibition will feature Pokemon in many of Van Gogh's paintings, such as Munchlax and Snorlax in 'Bedroom in Arles' Or the Sunflora in Van Gogh's Sunflower paintings.
One of the most anticipated parts of this collection is the trading cards for the TCG (Trading Card Game). Just like the Munch cards, Pokemon x Van Gogh will feature limited designs of Pokemon in various famous paintings by the man himself. For example, The Starry Night, Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers or his Self-Portrait. The only promotional piece of media that the company gave us was the video with a picture of Sunflora within the Sunflowers Fourth Version painting.
Credit: Pokemon from Instagram
The promotional card that will be given out throughout the exhibition timeframe is the 'Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat', mimicking Van Gogh's own portrait in the same motif. To get the card, visitors will have to book a ticket to the museum, complete the Pokémon Adventure booklet (found at the museum's Information Desk in the Atrium), complete the whole book and hand in your copy at the Information Desk. You will then get the coveted Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat card!
PS: The cards are subject to availability so head down early to grab them!
If you are not able to go down to Amsterdam, you may be able to get your hands on it from the Pokemon Centre so check online now to see if it's available!
Credit: The Van Gogh Museum
As we all know, Pokemon has a bunch of merchandise and this collaboration is no exception! You will be able to get shirts, tote bags, notebooks and prints! If you are heading down there physically, you can only access the Pokemon x Van Gogh shop after getting access to the museum. If you are not able to come down to Amsterdam, you can still buy some of these items at the Van Gogh Museum online store or the Pokemon Centre!
Credit: Pokemon on Instagram
They also have adorable plushies and figurines of Pikachu as Van Gogh in the paintings or of Van Gogh himself!
If you are heading down to Amsterdam anytime soon, book your tickets and go visit the exhibition now!
PS: You can only book your tickets online. No sale of tickets is done at the museum itself!
#HHWT Tip: The Van Gogh Museum encourages anyone with any disabilities to wear a sunflower lanyard to indicate that you may need additional support! The museum is also wheelchair friendly and has a range of services if needed!
Admission: €20 | Free admission for under 18 year-olds
Opening hours:
- Until 5 November 2023: Mon-Sun (9AM - 6PM)
- 6 November - 15 December 2023: Mon-Fri (9AM - 5PM) | Sat-Sun (10AM - 6PM)
- 16 - 31 December 2023: Mon-Sun (9AM - 6PM)
- NOTE: 24 - 26 December (9AM - 5PM) | 1 December (9AM - 5PM)
Address: Museumplein 6, 1071 DJ Amsterdam, Netherlands
How to get there:
- Nearest stops: Van Baerlestraat (Tram 2, 5 or 12) or Museumplein (Tram: 3, 5 or 12, Bus: 347 or 357)
- More information can be found here