A favorite new show that I discovered during the pandemic is Emily in Paris on Netflix. Well, I didn’t really “discover” it in that it was brought to my attention by more than one friend or family member. I’ll get into a whole blog post about that show later, but I did want to talk about an exciting event I recently attended, which is highlighted in one of the episodes.
In episode 5 of season 1 of Emily In Paris entitled “Faux Amis”, main character Emily, her neighbor Gabriel and his girlfriend Camille, all go to an exhibit in Paris called “Van Gogh, Starry Night”, organized by L’Atelier des Lumières (which is no longer on display). As they walked in, Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” was blown up and projected on all the walls of the gallery. What I loved about that exhibit is that it looked like they were inside the painting, a part of it or surrounded by it. I had no idea it was a temporary showing, so any plans of going to Paris in the future to visit said exhibit were dashed very quickly.
Due to the popularity of that episode and exhibit, Van Gogh immersive experiences started to appear all over the US and Canada over the past year. Luckily, the first one I saw coming to the Arizona area was attended in Chicago by the star of Emily in Paris herself, Lily Collins: Immersive Van Gogh.
Note: For my friends in San Diego who are going to the Van Gogh exhibit there, it’s presented by Beyond Van Gogh, which is a different immersive event.
The moment tickets went on sale for Immersive Van Gogh, I immediately purchased VIP tickets for myself and my family. More recently, I had the honor of being invited to the VIP cocktail grand opening and ribbon cutting in what is listed on the website as the Phoenix, Arizona location, which I attended with my friend Susan (Styles Revealed). It was presented by Lighthouse Immersive and Impact Museums, at Lighthouse Artspace in Scottsdale.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, we were treated to a presentation, led by Show One Productions founder, Svetlana Dvoretsk, who partnered with Starvox Entertainment to bring Immersive Van Gogh to life. During her presentation, she mentioned that one should not be shocked if you have an emotional reaction to being immersed by the imagery of Van Gogh’s paintings and the musical accompaniment. After walking around and pausing to take in what was happening, that deep connection between the images and music happened for me, leaving me a bit breathless. I later shared my reaction with Svetlana when I saw her walking around the exhibit, and she was not surprised!
I’m not sure if it’s my background in the arts, or my absolute love of music that brought about that emotional reaction, but it was definitely moving. I have read reviews that this is such an “Instagrammable” presentation, and that it’s so watered down compared to seeing Van Gogh’s actual works up close and personal. I have visited museums like The Louvre in Paris and The Norton Simon Museum of Art in Los Angeles, seeing great works of art, including Van Gogh’s, in a more “appropriate” gallery setting. But seeing his art in this newer context, moving all around me in time with beautiful music was quite a different sensation (visual presentation by Massimilaino Siccardi and musical presentation by Luca Longobardi). It was even more fun when I returned a week later with my family. It was lovely to be with my husband and son, experiencing art differently, allowing for the interest to take root. Dominic is drawn to Asian art, particularly Japanese art and was immediately taken by Van Gogh’s own versions, asking if he actually traveled to Japan.
Another criticism of the exhibit stemmed from the lack of additional information about Van Gogh, that the images were presented without context. I would have to say to anyone attending Immersive Van Gogh to do your own research, which is what I did. I watched several documentaries about Vincent Willem Van Gogh, soaking up as much information about his mindset, travels and relationships. I enjoyed one from 2010 called Painted with Words, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Van Gogh. It detailed the artist’s story through many letters he wrote, especially to his beloved brother Theo. In fact, as you walk into Immersive Van Gogh, there is a room filled with mirrors etched with excerpts from some of the letters he wrote over the years.
I also watched the 2018 film At Eternity’s Gate, starring Willem Dafoe, which depicted Van Gogh’s isolation, revelations and sorrow. I wanted to know more about the artist before attending because I wanted to get a sense of where he was, both physically and mentally, when he painted his works. And to answer Dominic’s question about whether or not Van Gogh had been go Japan, the answer is no. He painted them mainly in French countryside, but was so moved by the light and color, that he felt it would be similar to how it would be in Japan.
In retrospect, what I believe what this exhibit offers is the power of reflection. You have hints of who Van Gogh was, and there are images of his most famous and familiar works. But I think this space was designed to overwhelm your senses through sight and sound, maybe to feel how he felt in the countryside, in Arles and Saint Remy de Provence. In recalling the documentaries and the movie At Eternity’s Gate, Van Gogh had a desire to paint, to get out what he was feeling. He thoughtfully painted with brightness, light, and color. Maybe there was an overwhelming feeling of fading away, and he counteracted that notion with bold strokes, movement and dark rich color in his paintings. In his childhood, I discovered he was actually the second child to be named Vincent Willem Van Gogh (who died as an infant), and he was overwhelmed with the notion of being insignificant and irrelevant at the start of life, not being able to live up to his predecessor. This feeling followed him to his untimely end, never getting to see that he became one of the most significant painters of all time.
And that’s what I take away from this exhibit. Sometimes we can get overwhelmed, but we allow that to channel in different ways. How will you experience Immersive Van Gogh?
Immersive Van Gogh will be at the Lighthouse Artspace (4301 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251) now extended until March 13, 2022! Tickets range from $39.99 to $49.99. There are also Date Night and VIP packages available.
(Additional notes: Covid-19 precautions are definitely taken with masks encouraged, sanitation and socially distant circles to enjoy the exhibition. Rental cushions, stools, and chairs are also available.)
