![]() Having experienced a virtual art immersion in a gallery, in Singapore, where there were a variety of computer artworks to interact with, I was interested to visit the Van Gogh exhibition in York. After booking on line, I arrived at our allotted time to see how the show was organised. The experience was on a loop so could be seen at any time. After a few minutes deciding which deckchair to sit in, I sat back to enjoy the projections. At first, tiny seeds of disappointment appeared and I thought, 'Was this it?' On the walls were a series of frames showing examples of some of Van Gogh's paintings. But then my interest was captured as they started to merge into other paintings and so the immersion experience began! ![]() Every wall, the ceiling and the floor were covered with moving images of Van Gogh's paintings, so I sat back and was surrounded by them. These images led me through his early life to his later darker days, with music and prose added to the effects. A fascinating insight into his work and the way it can be experienced in a large space. I really enjoyed my visit! My only criticism was that I would have liked to see a few of his better known works such as the 'Café Terrance at Night' and 'Starry Night'. I also thought that a couple of the in-between sections were over-long. Going through to the next room, I took part in a colouring session, where visitors could either draw their own pictures based on Van Gough' style or colour one of the prepared drawings. A virtual reality session was also offered at an extra coat but due to time constrictions I had to miss this.
A super time spent at this exhibition and I hope this type of experience can become a fixture in all towns, possibly alongside an actual exhibition. I can imagine, in my own city of Salford, an immersive exhibition of L S Lowry's paintings, where the people wander around the scenes would be a fantastic addition to the Lowry Art gallery. Since visiting and doing the notes for this blog, it is interesting that I came across this advert! I look forward to going to this to compare the experience. Hosted within a stunning, purpose-built venue at MediaCity piazza from October 22 to January 23, this Covid-safe and family-friendly experience is anticipated to become the North’s biggest visitor attraction; providing a truly world-class cultural experience in the heart of Greater Manchester’s iconic cultural hub. Prepare to transcend time and space as you accompany Van Gogh on a journey through the Netherlands, Arles, Saint Rémy and Auvers-sur-Oise, where he created many of his timeless masterpieces. Set to an evocative classical score, a thrilling display of over 3,000 inspirational images transforms every surface that surrounds you in what has been described as an “unforgettable multi-sensory experience”. I can't wait!
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![]() After waking up to a sunny day, it seemed a suitable chance to visit Southport, having not been there for over two years. On arrival, we took a pleasant walk along the front and then sat on a bench overlooking the water to eat our packed-lunch. We decided to visit the art gallery, as they always seem to have a good variety of work on show. Going into the main gallery we were surprised to see a full exhibition based on the British Landscape, a subject matter close to my heart, and one that is not as popular nowadays. Landscapes had been the mainstay of British art for centuries with the artists from the early 20th century portraying the most idealised views. Artists and the public found solace in these type of art works especially after the horrors of the wars and saw the countryside as a place of calm and security. Britain led the way in landscape art until the development of impressionism, but it was still popular until the mid 20th century. It was a fascinating insight into this genre, showing artwork from around the country from the early 18th century to more modern paintings of today. A subject matter that hopefully one day will return in popularity, although artists such as Damien Hurst and David Hockney are exhibiting work on this theme at the moment. Walking through to the next gallery, a similar theme was on show. Here Paul Kenny exhibited abstract compositions on small glass plates with objects found on beaches and crystallised sea water. These plates are then scanned to produce large scale photographs and light boxes. These works focus on the often overlooked elements of the landscape. Interestingly, Paul was born and educated in Salford but now lives in Northumberland. These highly colourful images were impressive and were a different interpretation to the landscape theme. Unfortunately, we were a few days early for the art club exhibition being hung during our visit which was a shame, as it is always interesting to compare their work and themes with that of Salford Art Club. Another enjoyable visit and we look forward to returning some time soon.
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