Nestled into a corner of Manhattan right by the edge of the East River, the long-anticipated Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit is finally opening in NYC this week, on June 10th – we got to catch an inside look at this colorful, mesmerizing display of the artist’s famous body of work.
This light exhibit, which has been dazzling visitors all over the country, was created by Massimilano Siccardi in Paris and enhanced with a soundtrack by composer Luca Longobardi. While Van Gogh may be the most buzzy, it is certainly not the first immersive experience Siccardi has created; his work has been seen by over 2 million visitors in Paris. Exclusive to the NYC exhibit, visitors are treated to a fantastic set design of mirrors and sculptures by David Korins (set designer for Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen), as well as lobby art pieces that prepare you for the experience within. These creative additions include a second-story platform for visitors to experience the display from another vantage point and secret spaces for people to discover as they go around the exhibit.
As you enter the venue, you’re greeted with a dark, peaceful lobby bathed in calming blue light, with splashes of color and a colossal frame of Van Gogh’s famous self-portrait in the corner. You can peer around at a teaser of the light displays to come, and peek at the gift shop behind a divider at the end of the exhibit, before heading through the tunnel to the exhibit.
Peppering the tunnel to the Immersive light show are carefully crafted infographics about the life of Vincent Van Gogh: his letters, his youth, his art, and more. After a little lesson, you enter into a chamber filled with surround sound music and the artist’s most celebrated works, brought to life. Through mirrors of all shapes and sizes, placed around the room to reflect each brushstroke, the artwork comes to life in a way museums can’t quite capture. One moment you’re enveloped in Starry Night (1889), with twinkling moonbeams evoking the feelings of wonder and listlessness that have hypnotized spectators for centuries, and the next, you’re wandering through the South of France in the late 1800s via The Yellow House (1888). The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit brings Van Gogh’s pieces to life through expert animation, including flickering candlelight and swirling clouds, for an unforgettable experience.
Seasoned art lovers and casual aesthetic appreciators alike will be enthralled by the compositions created by Siccardi and Longobardi – book your tickets soon, because tickets are selling out fast!
