Art is meant to be experienced. It's meant to be felt. Aidan Forrest '26 crossed an ocean to be transfixed by the sunflowers.
When Forrest turned the corner and stepped across the threshold into room 43, she described the sensation as time standing still.
"Everything stopped, except my heart. It was beating so fast. I've seen the sunflowers before, but never in person. I actually started to get very emotional. This is a painting I hold close to my heart. That was definitely my favorite moment in class."
The class was Renaissance to Abstraction: the History of Art in London Museums. Forrest, a double major in creative arts and visual and art design, enrolled in the University of Roehampton course during her four weeks abroad this summer in London. The course examines famous paintings and celebrated masterpieces enshrined in museums throughout London. There was just one rule: no classrooms.
"Each day, the professor would tell us where to meet her. We visited six or seven museums while we were there. We'd find her in front of a painting, and she'd say, 'I'll tell you everything you need to know about this.' It was a surreal experience. She didn't want us cooped up in a classroom. We were learning about a painting while in the presence of the actual painting."
The professor challenged her students to examine and dissect the art from different perspectives. How would a painting be perceived in different eras by different people from different cultures? It was a transformative intellectual exercise, and at times, an emotional one.
Forrest, whose own art is photography, has always been a deep admirer of 19th century Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. In room 43, on the second level of the National Gallery in London, several of Van Gogh's oil paintings hang. The famous expressionist created seven distinct sunflower paintings during his time in Arles, France. Forrest came face-to-face with "Sunflowers" – her all-time favorite work of art.
"It was a lot bigger than I thought it would be. I was just drawn to it. I stood there and analyzed every inch of the canvas."
Forrest had never left the United States before catching a flight to Heathrow, but as her senior year drew closer, she wanted an adventure.
"I just reached this point in my life where I wanted this completely brand-new experience. I was nervous at first, but once I got there, I was so comfortable. It was amazing. If you're unsure, trust me. Take the leap."
In other words, don't just stop to smell the roses... go chase after your sunflowers.
