Why Immersive Showings of Van Gogh’s Works Are a Hot Ticket (2024)

Two installations dedicated to the Dutch painter come to Detroit

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Why Immersive Showings of Van Gogh’s Works Are a Hot Ticket (1)

Museumgoers have been losing themselves in Vincent van Gogh’s distinctively bold and colorful works for more than a century. But these days — thanks to an explosion of immersive installations that feature floor-to-ceiling, animated projections — art lovers can quite literally lose themselves in the world of the Dutch master’s paintings.

The popularity of these immersive Van Gogh shows — fueled in part by a scene in the Netflix show Emily in Paris — has spawned no fewer than five different (but very similarly named) offerings within the U.S. That’s caused more than a little confusion, including here in Detroit, where two immersive Van Gogh shows are making stops:Beyond Van Gogh, which runs through early October at TCF Center (tickets range from $24 to $94); andImmersive Van Gogh, which will run from Oct. 21 through Feb. 6 at an as-yet-undetermined location (tickets cost $40 to $50).

So, what are the differences between them?

Immersive Van Gogh is the one with direct creative ties to the Emily in Paris scene. The exhibit’s creator, film producer Massimiliano Siccardi, and composer Luca Longobardi, designed Van Gogh, Starry Night for Paris’ L’Atelier des Lumières. That’s where the titular Emily strolls around with her hunky neighbor and his girlfriend. Immersive Van Gogh uses 100 projectors to cover more than 500,000 cubic feet, features experimental electronic music, and offers visitors an hourlong experience.

Beyond Van Gogh, meanwhile, is the brainchild of Mathieu St-Arnaud and Montreal’s Normal Studio. Beyond features 300 of Van Gogh’s works, accompanied by an eclectic mix of music and excerpts from the artist’s personal writings.

“At one point, we started talking about the easy archetype of the tortured artist, and I found it kind of sad, because we focus a lot on [Van Gogh’s] ear-cutting, and his suicide, and all his problems,” St-Arnaud says. “I wanted to really see Vincent and look beyond that archetype. And that’s when the word ‘beyond’ started coming up. … We started talking about going beyond the frame, beyond the image, and entering the painting.”

Why Immersive Showings of Van Gogh’s Works Are a Hot Ticket (2)

Tickets for both Van Gogh shows in Detroit have been in high demand, but of course, not everyone’s enamored with the immersive concept. “It’s digital imagery of beautiful paintings,” shrugs Detroit-based artist/designer Moníka Essen. “One is missing out on the masterful technique of the layers of color, the quality of paint and brushstrokes, and the emotional response one gets when you see one of [Van Gogh’s] real paintings in person. The intimacy of one person to one painting.”

Those in Essen’s aesthetic camp (or those who simply can’t snag tickets) can take heart — a far more traditional exhibit, Van Gogh in America, is scheduled to open at the Detroit Institute of Arts in October 2022. That exhibition will track, nearly 60 of Van Gogh’s works, the evolution of the artist’s popularity during the first half of the 20th century.

St-Arnaud believes conventional museum experiences go hand-in-hand with shows like Beyond Van Gogh. “When you go to a museum and you see the paintings there in front of you, there’s something almost mystical about that,” he says. “We just offer the audience another perspective, or a new way to look at his work. It’s complementary.”

And maybe more important, after more than a year of being cooped up, it offers a unique outing. “It’s Instagramable, a spectacle, like an IRL virtual reality experience that people can roam through,” says Scott Northrup, a film and photography professor at the College for Creative Studies. “It’s something big and bright and in-the-world, an amusem*nt. After a year in smaller spaces, accessing other people and places via Zoom and FaceTime, I assume it feels freeing, in a way, to walk through [these paintings].”

Just make sure you know precisely which show you aim to, well, Van Gogh to.

In the mood for a more intimate, analog Van Gogh experience?

There’s nothing like standing in the presence of the real thing. As a kind of appetizer for the veritable Van Gogh feast coming to the Detroit Institute of Arts in October 2022, check out these four paintings on display as part of the DIA’s permanent collection:

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Next year’s big Van Gogh exhibit will coincide with the 100th anniversary of the DIA’s purchase of Self-Portrait — a purchase that, it’s worth noting, marked the first purchase of a Van Gogh painting by an American museum. Well done, DIA. Well done. —JM

This story is featured in the August 2021 issue of Hour Detroit magazine. Read more stories inour digital edition.

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Why Immersive Showings of Van Gogh’s Works Are a Hot Ticket (2024)

FAQs

Is the VIP ticket worth it for the Van Gogh immersive experience? ›

There was no line for any of it and often times there were few enough people that you really could see yourself in the works. HOWEVER, although the VIP package is “worth it” monetarily and theoretically, it most certainly is NOT worth more for the average person.

How does the immersive Van Gogh exhibit work? ›

Most of the experiences involve guests moving from room to room, with walls (and sometimes floors or ceilings) decorated with moving projections of van Gogh's works. The works are typically accompanied by music set to pair with them.

Are the Van Gogh immersive experiences different? ›

"Immersive Van Gogh" and "Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience" are two different shows put on by two different production companies. “There's multiple van Gogh shows today and I'd like to say each one is really cool because they offer different perspectives on who van Gogh was," said Winston Fisher, the CEO of AREA15.

How long do most people stay at immersive Van Gogh? ›

7 answers. The main nave projection show lasts 35 minutes and is on a continuous loop - so if you want to watch it more than once, you can. The optional VR is 12 minutes, and many people spend a good ten minutes on the colouring section, so usually around an hour. over a year ago.

Which is better immersive or beyond Van Gogh? ›

Verdict: If you prefer a closer representation of Van Gogh's paintings, “Imagine Van Gogh” is the one to visit. If you're seeking something closer to an IMAX experience, “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” could be the better choice.

What should I wear to the Van Gogh exhibit? ›

Casual dress and comfortable walking shoes are best for a day at Immersive Van Gogh and Camp North End.

How do you prepare for the Van Gogh immersive experience? ›

5 Things to Know Before Visiting the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit
  1. Purchase the flexible premium ticket. This will allow you to visit within a two-hour time frame rather than a specific time slot. ...
  2. Check out the audio feature. ...
  3. The exhibit is continuous. ...
  4. Scan for benches. ...
  5. Put the phone down.

Is the Van Gogh immersive experience permanent? ›

Debuting in July 2021 as a new permanent attraction at Newfields, it combines great art and cutting-edge digital technology at its finest with floor to ceiling projections of some of the most famous paintings in the world.

What is immersive experience? ›

An immersive experience describes the perception of being surrounded by – and being a part of – a different environment than our normal day to day. This could be facilitated with technology like Virtual Reality goggles or a physical environment like a theme park attraction with multi-media components.

Is Beyond Van Gogh worth it? ›

It was a lovely serene experience. The exibit is compact but those who put it togther did a beautiful job making the experience so grand. Beautiful. Phenomenal.

Do you need a cushion for immersive Van Gogh? ›

Basic Ticket (available as Timed or FLEXI PASS): Allows you entrance into the exhibition. Comfort Ticket (available as Timed or FLEXI PASS): Along with your entrance into the exhibition, you will also receive a Van Gogh cushion rental to sit on during your visit inside the gallery.

Does Beyond Van Gogh make you dizzy? ›

Beyond Van Gogh features bright lights, moving images and sounds that may cause dizziness, motion sickness or vertigo.

How much does the VR cost at the Van Gogh experience? ›

Another optional stop before you exit is the virtual reality experience. This is not included in your ticket price, but only costs £3 per person, so is well worth trying while you are there.

Is immersive experience better than regular? ›

Regular is the default mode, where you play through Breakpoint with a gear score and tiered loot. Immersive offers a brand-new, tactical way to play Breakpoint with no level progression equipment, only partial health regen, limited resources, and a minimal interface.

Is the Van Gogh art exhibit worth it? ›

Should you Gogh to Immersive Van Gogh? It depends on how seriously you take your art and how much you want to have fun. The Immersive Van Gogh show is a spectacle, a welcome balm for pandemic weary folk. It's a chance to escape into Van Gogh paintings you might not be able to admire up close in a museum.

How long should you plan for immersive Van Gogh? ›

Most people stay for 2 to 3 runtimes or more. It really is a great experience. On average patrons spend a little over an hour in the exhibit.

How long does it take to walk through the Van Gogh? ›

Individual visit times will vary, but most visitors can anticipate spending 60 – 90 minutes. The main feature of the experience lasts approximately 45 minutes.

Can you take pictures inside the Van Gogh Museum? ›

Photography (without a flash or tripod) is only permitted at certain designated areas in the museum, such as in the Entrance Hall and by the so-called 'selfie walls'. To avoid causing nuisance to other visitors, photography of artworks in the museum galleries and exhibition spaces is not permitted.

Can you bring drinks into the Van Gogh Museum? ›

Eating and drinking is only permitted in the museum café. Running and shouting are not permitted. Groups may be asked not to sit on the floor when the museum is busy. Should any visitor break these rules, the Van Gogh Museum reserves the right to ask that visitor to leave.

What paintings are shown at immersive Van Gogh? ›

The installation includes the Mangeurs de pommes de terre (The Potato Eaters, 1885), the Nuit étoilée (Starry Night, 1889), Les Tournesols (Sunflowers, 1888), and La Chambre à coucher (The Bedroom, 1889).

How long is the Van Gogh live show? ›

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

This digital art show features similar van Gogh masterpieces set to music, and it takes about 60 to 75 minutes to experience in full.

Why do people like immersive experiences? ›

Immersive experience makes a customer step into an augmented universe where imagination comes to life. It is a future-proof way to interact in person with anyone you know, regardless of where they are at present.

Why are immersive experiences so popular? ›

It allows users to empathize, be inspired, and learn on a whole new level by convincing them that what they're seeing or feeling is genuine. This is why, when creating an immersive experience the elements of sight, sound, and touch are supposed to be taken into consideration so that it can be much more captivating.

Why immersive experiences are good? ›

Through an immersive experience, you can utilise visual powers to convey your message. Rather than relying on words alone, you can have people see your product in action, viewing how it will work and how it can help them.

Are there real Van Gogh paintings at Beyond Van Gogh? ›

“Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” isn't a museum show. You won't see Starry Night hanging at the Wisconsin Center. Or any real-life paintings at all, actually. But you will learn about Vincent Van Gogh's life through his letters.

What psychosis did Van Gogh have? ›

Conclusion. Most likely Van Gogh suffered from comorbid illnesses. Since young adulthood, he likely developed a (probably bipolar) mood disorder in combination with (traits of) a borderline personality disorder as underlying vulnerability.

What can I expect from the Van Gogh experience? ›

The exhibit envelopes the senses — soft instrumental music plays from above while bright colors and moving images are splashed on walls and floor. Paintings from Van Gogh are enlarged, moving in time with the music. Sometimes, just one painting is projected onto a dozen different walls.

What is the Van Gogh cushion for? ›

“We had an idea called the comfort ticket, which would come with a rental cushion that you could use to sit down when you're inside the gallery, but you would be getting a cushion that someone else had touched. How would the public feel about that?

Is Van Gogh immersive experience free? ›

TICKETS. Official tickets for Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience in London can only be purchased on Fever. Tickets are not available on any other website or ticketing platform.

How long is Van Gogh immersive LA? ›

“Immersive Van Gogh” is inhabiting Amoeba Music's former Sunset Boulevard record store through at least the beginning of 2022 with three main rooms, all covered with pieces of the same 35-minute loop that plays out across 65 projectors: a small entry area with reflective sculptures in the center, a spacious main room ...

What is a VIP Flex ticket Van Gogh? ›

Includes admission, limited edition poster, cushion rental, and flexibility to arrive +/- one hour of your time (subject to public opening hours). Please note that there is a $4.99 rescheduling fee per ticket, and $9.99 per ticket for requests submitted less than 24hrs from your scheduled attendance.

What does VIP Van Gogh mean? ›

VIP Tickets include

Priority access & admission. Cushion Rental. Limited edition poster. VIP souvenir laminate. Flexibility to arrive +/- one hour of your time – subject to public opening hours.

How long should I plan to spend at the immersive Van Gogh? ›

6. Stay for at least an hour. The show is about 35 minutes long and runs in a loop. I suggest you find a nice circle to sit in to view it completely once.

What is the difference between VIP and regular tickets? ›

Regular ticket: Standard general admission. VIP ticket: A higher-priced ticket that offers attendees something extra and exclusive (examples include, a 1:1 meeting with a high-profile speaker, or access to a unique session).

What is the benefits of VIP tickets? ›

In addition to get into the venue, VIP tickets may include services such as parking, co*cktails, commemorative accreditation, etc.

What is the highest priced Van Gogh painting? ›

Sold in 1990 for a whopping $83 million, Portrait of Dr Paul Gachet, painted in 1890, is the most expensive Van Gogh painting. This Van Gogh painting's price generally span the millions; hence the current estimated value sits at $152 million.

Is immersive Van Gogh loud? ›

The music gets loud and is unsettling at times. It adds to dramatic effect with the changing and moving art pieces, but if your children are sensitive to loud noises, the docents have ear plugs. The show is captivating, but please note that there really isn't anything to touch or interact with in the spaces.

How long does it take to go round the Van Gogh experience? ›

How long will it take us to go through the exhibition? – Van Gogh – The Immersive Experience. The visit will take approximately one hour.

What is the difference between the 2 Van Gogh exhibits in NYC? ›

One is in lower Manhattan, while the other is in lower Manhattan. One features enormous, room-sized, trippy animations of Van Gogh paintings, while the other features enormous, room-sized, trippy animations of Van Gogh paintings.

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