Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit NYC
The highly anticipated Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit has finally arrived in New York City, and opening day was on June 10, 2021, at Pier 36 in Lower Manhattan. The digital art exhibit features a curated selection of works from Vincent Van Gogh’s portfolio. Stunning animations of his paintings are projected on the walls and floor of the venue for an exciting walkthrough experience. Over 500,000+ cubic feet of projections, 60,600 frames of video, and 90,000,000 pixels are used to create this magnificent exhibit.
Massimiliano Siccardi, an Italian master of digital art, created the exhibit and included beautiful, evocative music composed by Luca Longobardi. Before stepping inside the incredible post-Impressionist works of Van Gogh, let's learn a little about his background.
Van Gogh (1853-1890) said, “Art is to console those who are broken by life.”
Growing up in a strict household run by his mother, Anna Cornelia Carbentus, and father, Theodorus Van Gogh, Vincent lacked self-confidence and struggled with his identity and with direction. After being forced to leave school at a young age, he worked at Goupil & Cie, surrounded by amazing works of art. However, it took him a few years to discover his calling as an artist because he saw himself as a high standard of the party, reading the Bible and preaching the gospel.
Between 1860 and 1880, Vincent decided the one thing he genuinely loved to do was paint. Instead of preaching about God and the passion he felt for the world, he painted with all of his emotions. To say goodbye to the stifling atmosphere after his father’s death and his fiancé having attempting suicide, he moved to Pairs. It was a great period in which he admired (and was influenced by) the impressionist artists (Cezanne, Seurat, and Paul Gauguin). In his lifetime, Van Gogh painted almost 900 works, including 35 self-portraits; there are only 2 actual photographs of him. “The Red Vineyard” was the only painting sold in his lifetime, for a current value of $2,000. Shooting himself, Vincent Van Gogh died in his sleep at 37. They covered his coffin in warm yellow sunflowers.
“I put my heart and my soul into my work and have lost my mind in the process” (Vincent Van Gogh).
The main focus of this exhibit is the half-hour show, which takes place in three massive rooms projecting Van Gogh’s paintings. Once you step inside of the installation you feel instantly immersed in Van Gogh’s world of brushstrokes and colors. Walking into the different rooms and seeing his art all over the walls was a wonderful experience. The space is filled with mirrors and reflective sculptures that would be perfect for taking selfies. The music also really helps set the mood with a special soundtrack of orchestral arrangements and gentle electronic compositions, including a track by Radiohead front man Thom Yorke.
The show presents Van Gogh’s work in a new and unique way of experiencing art. Color, light, and sound all work together to create an amazing atmosphere. I loved how relaxing and immersive it felt moving throughout the exhibit. I felt hypnotized by the paintings and could have stayed in there forever. I especially enjoyed the moment when the Starry Night painting filled up the room, it honestly felt magical. Another favorite moment of mine was towards the end when they showed Van Gogh’s artwork in fashion form. There were a few outfits displayed on mannequins that were inspired by Van Gogh’s works, such as “Sunflowers” and “Irises.” It was a special thank you to New York and a nod to Pier 36’s long history.
After watching the show, you can visit the Van Gogh themed bar where you can grab a drink or some yummy desserts. There is also a large and enticing gift shop, which features some fun interactive elements as well. Overall, the exhibit is amazing and can be appreciated by all. I had a thoroughly fun experience visiting it myself and would definitely go again.
Article by Cubie Chang and Addie Saenz, Contributors, PhotoBook Magazine
