Technology
Posted on: Jul 03, 2017

VAN GOGH painting comes to life with this amazing glowing bike path

By
Mike Klianis
Bakaliko

You might not expect to find fine art on a bike path; but one city in the Netherlands doesn’t see why the two can’t go hand in hand.

Eindhoven, known as the Dutch city of light, has created a spectacular solar-powered bike path inspired by the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh.

Considered one of the greatest artists of all time, Van Gogh was known for his use of bold colours and his impulsive and expressive brushwork.

Many of his artworks are known and revered the world over, including his famous Sunflowers painting.

Another favourite for many is his piece entitled The Starry Night. It shows a night sky lit up by swirling yellow stars and moon.

This was the inspiration behind the Van Gogh-Roosegaarde cycle path, which helps bring the much-loved artwork to life.

Artist Daan Roosegaarde designed the 600m-long path, using thousands of coloured stones to create the incredible end result.

These ingenious stones are covered in a special paint and become charged with energy during daylight via a nearby solar panel.

This then powers the stones when night falls, creating neon swirling patterns just like those in The Starry Night.

Roosegaarde said that this method of illumination is “More gentle to the eye and surrounding nature" than other lighting techniques, creating a “Connection with cultural history".

This section of path forms part of the Van Gogh cycle route through the Dutch province of Noord Brabant, where the artist was born and raised.

The path first opened in 2014 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Van Gogh’s death.

The Netherlands isn’t the only country keen to make use of solar power in this way.

A solar-powered bike path was trialled in Poland in 2016.

The whole path near the northern town of Lidzbark Warminski is lit up in a bright bold hue, reminiscent of the star studded sky above.

It’s the work of thousands of crystals coated in phosphor which shine light after they’re charged by the sun.

Source: www.express.co.uk

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