Last refuge art

The works of Matthew Wong and Vincent van Gogh come together at the Kunsthaus Zürich. Two artists who found refuge in painting and revealed their inner struggles in it.

Caption: Click on photos

The painting "A Dream" (Image 1) by Matthew Wong stands out in particular. It shows a path lined with dark trees and bushes that leads to a light-flooded shore. The evening sun is reflected in the glistening water. The oil painting evokes a sense of longing: In the gloom, sublimity beckons from afar. The bluish tones of the woodland, which gently winds and stretches upwards, make the picture seem surreal. Matthew Wong painted it in 2019 and died in the same year.

The bold colours and wave-like vibrations are somewhat reminiscent of works by Vincent van Gogh. His "Starry Night" (1889) is world-famous. The eponymous work "Starry Night" by Matthew Wong is a homage to it, as confirmed at the exhibition at the Kunsthaus Zürich (van Gogh's original hangs in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, however).

Wong's version is different: like many of his paintings, it is calm and contemplative. It shows an idyllic landscape with a dark lake reflecting a cluster of stars. Painting seems to have been a means by which Matthew Wong found peace in the midst of his inner struggles and inner turmoil.

"Matthew Wong - Vincent van Gogh: Last Refuge Painting": on display at Kunsthaus Zürich until 26 January 2025.

Matthew Wong, Coming of Age Landscape, 2018, Private collection, Courtesy of HomeArt, © 2023, ProLitteris, Zurich

Kunsthaus Zürich

Matthew Wong – Vincent van Gogh

Shortly before his death at a young age, the Canadian painter and draughtsman Matthew Wong (1984 Toronto – 2019 Edmonton) emerged as a phenomenon with his ...

Permanent exhibition

Short documentary in English

Published from Ilir Pinto on January 21, 2025.

More from our scouts

He says | She says: Circus in Town
24.08.2023

He says | She says: Circus in Town

Tractors on the horizon: Circus Chnopf returns from its tour of Switzerland, ending the tour in Uster, Winterthur and Zurich.

Rebekka & Sebastian
Rebekka & Sebastian
My first time ... at Xenix
14.03.2024

My first time ... at Xenix

In the heart of Zurich lies the Xenix, a gem of cinema culture - a meeting place for film enthusiasts and a haven for niche films.

Severin Miszkiewicz
Severin Miszkiewicz
From the office to the stage
11.12.2025

From the office to the stage

Der Zürcher Slam Poet Gregor Stäheli erzählt über sein erstes Soloprogramm und das Abenteuer, als Comedian durchstarten zu wollen.

Kyros Kikos
Kyros Kikos

More from your scouts

Michèle Bischoff
Michèle Bischoff
Steffen Kolberg
Steffen Kolberg
Pascale Diggelmann
Pascale Diggelmann
Nora Kehli
Nora Kehli
Silvan Preisig
Silvan Preisig
Enno Rennenkampff
Enno Rennenkampff
All scouts