Imagine Van Gogh. The Immersive Exhibition.

Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre (March 19 – August 29th, 2021)

Before we jump into the artistry of it all, I would just like to say how impressed I was with all the safety precautions in place. The importance of masks, social distancing and hand sanitiser was reiterated as you progressed through each checkpoint before entering.

Before you entered the main hall you were able to gain an insight into the history of Van Gogh himself, as well as detailed information on the technology and production that went into creating the exhibit. Although very informative, I was just dying to actually get into the exhibit itself. The music playing in the distance was far too alluring for me to pay full attention to the written words.

The room was a very angled space with a large pillar at the far end. At first, this led the inquisitive nature of me to want to dance around the room to see every side to ensure I was not missing anything. However, I quickly realised the majority of the paintings were broken up in a way you didn’t really miss anything as you scanned the whole room from one spot. The soundscape and the soft pace of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings appearing before me onto the walls and floor also lead me around peacefully. To be honest, most of the time I found a good spot and stayed there for a while. I was in awe over how the wall’s and floor’s projections met so seamlessly. I felt truly immersed in this world laid out before me.

During the experience, Van Gogh’s paintings would sometimes slowly travel along the wall: A boat and water travels across the screen suggesting the movement of water, the night sky would fade down and around the canvas it was destined for.

One particular piece I enjoyed was of an unfinished seascape that had predetermined colours scrawled in his handwriting around different areas of the boat. After being able to appreciate that for a moment, the colours sprung into the space, filling it with life. 

There is one very intense section of the whole event that was displayed alongside the dramatic music: ‘Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet, Op 64, Act 1: No.13, Dance of the Knights’, also known as The Apprentice theme tune! With each striking beat, different portraits would appear on different locations around the room. The floor slowly filled with picture frames and then suddenly cut to darkness.

Throughout the whole experience, no painting is actually named. I question if you are a real stickler for the details this could be a frustrating feeling to have these details left out. However with the names would it be truly as immersive as it was…? How I see it, it is another way to appreciate art told in a way that opens it up to a larger audience that may not of been as intrigued if not for the technology involved.

If you are a stickler for the details I would advise you to take your time in the room beforehand to really understand his story, family, mental illness and issues he faced throughout his life, as it really helps put his paintings into perspective. I wish I gave myself the patience to absorb it in the moment, rather than looking into it more so after the fact.

If you are unable to go, no fear - you can still enjoy the beautiful soundtrack: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2n0nlTjBE6dKZpCtDiBm2h?si=mdIYZwZlSBuemh04rdjGqg

You can find more details here: imagine-vangogh.com

By Hope Aylen. Designfulhope