National Gallery brings warmth to London with exhibition of Van Gogh's Sunflowers. Little Sun lamps provide support for third world country.

For many of us here in the UK, we are suffering from a case of water-fatigue with all the rain we have been getting in the past two months (and more is predicted for days ahead) and we are missing the sun.

London’s National Gallery has gratefully come to the rescue to provide warmth for our spirit at least, by staging a special exhibition of two of Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” oil-on-canvas paintings - which is on until April 27, and admission is free.

A selection of sourvenirs on sale at the National Gallery shop.
Photo by Lucia Carpio for MyFashionConnect

To view the various shades of the yellow hue through these still-life masterpieces displayed side by side is a rare and unique experience,  as this is the first time in 65 years to have such an opportunity. One of these is the National Gallery’s own, the other is on loan from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

While this current installation revives our interest in the great masters, surely with the current fashion trend being faunt and fauna, bouquets and flowers, they provide inspiration for those working in design, as proven by Italian luxury designer brand Dolce & Gabbana which showed a Alta Moda (Haute Couture) collection of floral-decorated creations including one dress with a replication of Van Gogh Sunflowers, at the Spring/Summer 2014 couture shows in Milan a few days ago.

But for the everyday enjoyment of common folks, the Van Gogh masterpieces have inspired The East India Company whose tea master, Lalith Lenadora has created special herbal tea blends by taking inspiration from some of National Gallery’s masterpieces, including the Sunflowers.  Lalith carefully selected paintings that engaged him and resonated with his sensibilities, according to a representative at a recent tea-tasting event.  Lailith had spent many hours working closely with The National Gallery, studying and pondering over the paintings, to bring their essence to life in blends of fine teas, flowers and fruits. 

For inspiration, Lalith had selected two of Van Gogh’s paintings.  One is the Sunflower, and the other is A Wheatfield, with Cypresses, which is also a National Gallery treasure.

The tea inspired by Sunflowers features a blend of Chamomile, Rose Buds and Orange Petals.  Like the paintings, the tea blend gives a calming effect, and also infused with a refreshing fruity note.

The other tea in the collection had been inspired by Claude Oscar-Monet’s, The Water-Lily Pond and his Thames below Westminster.   All available in the National Gallery shop in London.

German artist Olafur Eliasson with Little Sun

Photo: Studio Olafur Eliasson

Now for all sun worshipers, a project called Little Sun has been developed by the artist Olafur Eliasson and engineer Frederik Ottesen with the purpose of helping people in off-grid communities.

Little Sun is a high-quality solar-powered lamp, which is rechargeable and can be used the whole evening after 5 hours in the sun.  

Little Sun at Tate Modern, London.

Photo: Studio Olafur Eliasson

Little Sun is not a charity but a short-term project aimed at donating lamps to areas without electricity (known as 'off-grid' areas), but the focus on the longer-term is to build profitable local businesses that distribute Little Sun light. Little Sun currently has distribution in seven African countries: Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Senegal, Ethiopia, and South Africa, as well as in the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan.  

If you are interested in buying Little Sun and thus help to support the 3rd world, click HERE to go their website.