The Van Gogh Museum and Takii both have a special connection with sunflowers, but another work by Van Gogh, The Sower (1888), also symbolises their partnership. While the Van Gogh Museum aims to inspire a diverse audience with the life and work of Vincent van Gogh and his era – where his love of nature, rural life, sowing and harvesting were central themes – Takii, as a vegetable and flower breeder, is devoted to cultivating and sowing life and beauty.
Art and seed breeding may seem like different worlds, but at their core they share a common aspiration: shaping life with beauty and meaning. The personal involvement of the Van Gogh family with the museum adds extra depth to this shared mission, a value the museum also recognises and appreciates in Takii as a family business.
Ton Kuipers (Takii):
‘It felt only natural to extend our partnership. When you can bring so much beauty to life together, of course you want to keep going.’
Emilie Gordenker (Van Gogh Museum):
‘Thanks to Takii, the museum has been able to highlight sunflowers – Van Gogh’s flower of inspiration – in a special way for ten years and counting.’
To mark the anniversary, an animated version of The Sower has been created, which is being shared on both organisations’ (social) channels.
About Takii
Takii is a leading, independent breeder of vegetable and flower seeds, with roots in Japan dating back to 1835. As a family-owned company, Takii develops high-performance varieties that contribute to sustainable food production and a healthy, joyful environment—for current and future generations.