In 2023, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris hosted an AI-driven installation as part of its exhibition dedicated to the final months of Vincent van Gogh’s life. At the heart of this experience was “Bonjour Vincent”, an interactive digital twin of the artist, developed by Jumbo Mana. This unique initiative allowed museum visitors to engage in real-time dialogue with a virtual Van Gogh—designed to mirror his likeness, language, and inner world with remarkable fidelity.

The project developed in close collaboration with Wouter van der Veen, scientific director and Van Gogh specialist, the AI was carefully trained on a corpus of over 800 letters written by the artist. The result is an avatar capable of speaking in 19th-century syntax, expressing Van Gogh’s thoughts, tone, and mannerisms.

The digital Van Gogh is not only visually lifelike—with his recognizable red beard, intense gaze, and partially severed left ear—but also interacts thoughtfully with visitors. Through a touchscreen and microphone interface, users pose questions and receive voice responses that reflect the artist’s documented personality and worldview.