by John Downey '23 on March 26, 2022
A&E Co-Editor

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Art

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A Chance to Experience Beloved Art in a New Way

The Immersive van Gogh Exhibit Delights

Claudia Fennell ’24

Acclaimed artist Vincent van Gogh only started painting at the age of 27, but he created over 900 paintings before his untimely death at the age of 37. However, van Gogh was only able to sell one of his art pieces before he died. It wasn’t until about a hundred years after he passed that his artwork started to become recognized as excellent. He is now considered one of the finest painters in history, with his specialty being impressionist and post-impressionist paintings. 

Today, art lovers across the world have worked together to create new and unique ways for viewers to observe van Gogh’s fabulous paintings. One of these art lovers is Massimiliano Siccardi, who has led a team of van Gogh fanatics in creating the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit.

Siccardi began his career as a dancer, and from there, he then decided to explore the world of visual arts. Throughout his career, he has been a visual choreographer for various festivals and galas across the globe, experiences which led him to create the Immersive van Gogh Exhibit.

  This exhibit, housed in museum sites ranging from 300,000 cubic feet to 500,000 cubic feet, completely surrounds the viewer with van Gogh’s paintings. Indeed, in each, the Dutch painter’s works are projected along walls and floors, fully allowing the viewer to be one with the paintings. The exhibit contains tens of thousands of frames of video and about 90 million pixels of artwork. What makes this exhibit truly unique, however, is that its paintings move in ways that highlight particular elements of each, spotlighting the important details of the works so that viewers can see them more easily. Notably, the exhibit includes some of van Gogh’s more famous paintings, such as The Starry Night (1889), Sunflowers (1888), and The Bedroom (1889).

Online, reviewers are raving about the exhibit, emphasizing how unique the experience is. One attendee exclaimed, “Absolutely amazing, we all enjoyed it. The pictures don’t do justice…glad we went in person.” 

This immersive experience is available in select cities in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. There are over fifteen locations in the United States, and other notable locations include Toronto, Berlin, and Beijing. Some exhibits have unfortunately sold out, but others still have tickets available for purchase with prices ranging from $40 to $60. Interestingly, in specific cities, yoga classes are offered at the site of the exhibit, creating a unique way to practice mindfulness surrounded by artwork.

  At every exhibit location, COVID-19 policies are in place to ensure viewers’ safety. Circles painted on the floors help to manage social distancing between viewing parties, masks are required for entry, and the exhibit is sanitized regularly. 

In allowing viewers to literally step into van Gogh’s work, this innovative art exhibit is the perfect place for van Gogh fans to see the artist’s work through new eyes and gain a newfound appreciation for it.