Documentary Follows Chinese Copy Painter Zhao Xiaoyong on Journey to Understand van Gogh
The documentary 'Alla ricerca di Van Gogh' (In Search of van Gogh), directed by Yu Haibo and Yu Tianqi Kiki, follows Zhao Xiaoyong, a former farmer turned painter in Shenzhen's Dafen village, who produces copies of Vincent van Gogh's works for the international market. Dissatisfied with the mechanical reproduction, Zhao travels from China to Amsterdam to understand van Gogh's soul and his own. The film premieres in Italy on January 15, screening at venues including Anteo, Ariosto, Beltrade in Milan, Teodolinda in Monza, Arsenale in Pisa, Teatro della Compagnia in Florence, Sala Truffaut in Modena (from January 23), Farnese in Rome, Le Terrazze del Mart in Rovereto, Centrale, Fratelli Marx, Due Giardini in Turin, Nazionale in Trieste, and Araceli in Vicenza.
Key facts
- Documentary directed by Yu Haibo and Yu Tianqi Kiki
- Focuses on Zhao Xiaoyong, a copy painter in Dafen, Shenzhen
- Zhao produces exact reproductions of Vincent van Gogh's paintings
- Zhao travels from China to Amsterdam to understand van Gogh
- Film premieres in Italy on January 15
- Screens in multiple Italian cities including Milan, Monza, Pisa, Florence, Modena, Rome, Rovereto, Turin, Trieste, Vicenza
- Dafen village is known for mass-producing art copies
- The film explores self-discovery through art and China's transition
Entities
Artists
- Zhao Xiaoyong
- Vincent van Gogh
- Yu Haibo
- Yu Tianqi Kiki
Institutions
- Anteo
- Ariosto
- Beltrade
- Teodolinda
- Arsenale
- Teatro della Compagnia
- Sala Truffaut
- Farnese
- Le Terrazze del Mart
- Centrale
- Fratelli Marx
- Due Giardini
- Nazionale
- Araceli
- Artribune
Locations
- Dafen
- Shenzhen
- China
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Italy
- Milan
- Monza
- Pisa
- Florence
- Modena
- Rome
- Rovereto
- Turin
- Trieste
- Vicenza