While travel restrictions may prevent Sydneysiders from hopping on a plane heading for the Netherlands anytime soon, they will soon be able to get up close and personal with one of the country’s most famous painters through a much-anticipated immersive exhibition.
“Van Gogh Alive” – which is slated to begin at The Royal Hall of Industries in Moore Park on 18 September for a limited season – will feature 3,000 large-scale projections of the Dutch painter’s extensive body of work. Visitors will be able to wander through cavernous hallways and gallery spaces, where Van Gogh’s paintings will be brought to life through a sophisticated mix of light, colour, sound and even fragrance.
“Van Gogh Alive” was originally scheduled to open at Melbourne’s The Lume –a new A$15 million digital art gallery by Grande Exhibitions that was supposed to open earlier this year. Unfortunately, the new round of Covid-19 lockdown measures in Melbourne forced the exhibition to relocate to Sydney.
It will now land in Sydney after showing in over 50 other cities across the world and being viewed by over six million people, making it the most popular multi-sensory experience in the world. It is the brainchild of Grande Exhibitions, who are also behind immersive art exhibitions featuring the likes of Monet and Da Vinci.
The Royal Hall of Industries has been registered as a Covid-safe venue and there will be controlled visitor capacities that allow for more than the recommended four-square-metres per person, as well as safe-distancing measures and zero touch points.
“Van Gogh Alive presents Van Gogh and his work in an entirely different, contemporary light. It is one of the most immersive and sharable experiences I’ve ever seen. The fact that it is absolutely no-touch makes it ideal in today’s Covid-aware climate,” said Emma Triggs, founder and CEO of the M Agency that is promoting the event.
*For more information on whether the locations are open, please check their individual websites.
