The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Don’t pass Van Gogh
2 immersive exhibits coming to Connecticut
In the past couple of years, immersive Vincent van Gogh exhibitions have popped up all over the world. With competing companies — often having similar names — putting on different exhibits of the impressionist’s work, art lovers may not know which experience to choose.
In New York City, the “Immersive Van Gogh” exhibit, which just ended its run, sold millions of tickets and became a must-see tourist destination in the city. Other exhibitions, such as “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” and “Imagine Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” look to carve their own path in the crowded market by offering pop-ups across the globe.
Most recently, the Better Business Bureau put out a warning on a specific Van Gogh exhibition after its parent company was slapped with a “Pattern of Complaint” designation from the BBB. Though that exhibit, “Van Gogh — The Immersive Experience,” is currently not listing any upcoming Connecticut dates, the BBB has warned consumers to be vigilant of their ticket purchases and to watch for any red flags from organizers.
In Connecticut, “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” is slated to open in Hartford in August while “Immersive Van Gogh,” announced future plans for a different Hartford exhibition.
Though details often remain scarce ahead of the exhibits being announced, here is what we know about the Van Gogh immersive exhibits coming to Connecticut.
Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Dates: Aug. 10 to Oct. 2 Connecticut’s first interactive Van Gogh exhibition will be held at Hartford’s Connecticut Convention Center this summer. This exhibit, titled “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience,” is produced by Paquin Entertainment Group and is a product of French-Canadian creative director Mathieu St.Arnaud and his team at the Montreal-based Normal Studio, according to a press release.
Over 300 original Van Gogh pieces are expected to be projected across the halls of the convention center, most notably “The Starry Night” and “Sunflowers.”
“An imaginative and fully immersive adventure, ‘Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience’ takes on the challenge of breathing new life into Van Gogh’s vast body of work. Through the use of cutting-edge 3D projection technology and music to illuminate all of his genius, guests can experience the artist with all their senses,” St.-Arnaud said in a press release.
Similar “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” exhibits are currently being held in Albuquerque, N.M.; Memphis, Tenn., and Rochester, N.Y.
A Danbury iteration of “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” was slated to be staged last year; however, that exhibit “will no longer be happening” as the company has decided to move ahead with just its Hartford exhibit, according to a representative from “Beyond Van Gogh.”
Tickets are currently on sale for the Hartford exhibit.
Tickets start at $23.99.
Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Produced by the same organization behind the massively popular, interactive Van Gogh exhibit in New York City, “Immersive Van Gogh” announced plans to stage its Hartford production in January.
According to the website, the Hartford “Immersive Van Gogh” exhibition will feature 500,000 cubic feet of projections, 60,600 frames of video and over 90,000,000 pixels across its displays.
A representative from “Immersive Van Gogh” told Hearst Connecticut that details and dates are currently still being confirmed for the Hartford exhibit.
Those interested in attending the exhibition can subscribe on the Hartford “Immersive Van Gogh” website for future information regarding access to ticket sales.