AI twist to masterpieces: A pulsating gallery of Da Vinci, other masters
In the exhibit ‘Wisdom of Da Vinci,’ classic paintings become an ocean of algorithmic waves, so that they could be consumed in a different way
There is no wrong way of appreciating art, most especially if something so familiar to you is transformed into something else.
The exhibit “Wisdom of Da Vinci” puts a twist to classic paintings so that they could be consumed in a different way. It has the tag of being an “immersive AI experience,” and for visitors, it means that they could get to experience famous works of art as data, which has been broken down and fused together to make new algorithmic art.
Familiar artworks dissolve into something unrecognizable, but still manage to evoke that sense of wonder in its visitors. The experience is like seeing a famous painting turn into thousands of dots and strands, like brainwaves.
The exhibit, mounted on the third floor of One Bonifacio High Street in Bonifacio Global City, may be named after Leonardo da Vinci, but it features several masters, including Michelangelo, Van Gogh and even our very own Juan Luna.
“Da Vinci is not just an artist, he is also a scientist. The immersive show will start with the technical drawings of Da Vinci. Then fusions of the paintings become more complicated,” said Ferdie Alici, director and founder of Ouchhh, creator of the exhibit.
Hence, we get the reinterpretation of Da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man” in flesh-colored circles. His drawing of gears is projected on the walls of the Immersive Hall 2. And of course, the exhibit pays homage to his most famous works, the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper.”
The projections only last a minute or so before they become something else. Some of the works we recognized were Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam,” “La Pietá,” Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers,” Jacques-Louis David’s “Napoleon Crossing the Alps” and Damien Hirst’s spot paintings.
If you expect it to feel like seeing traditional paintings on walls, you’ll be disappointed. It’s a moving, pulsating gallery, and you are right smack in the middle of it. It’s a 360-degree multimedia showcase. You are surrounded by the visual display when you look around and down on the floor.
My 7-year-old daughter found it delightful when the room shifted into the next work of art. The visual and hearing senses work together to make it feel like you are on a ride or flying through space.
Larger than life
It was a full house during its preview earlier this week, yet we found the experience very personal. The exhibit will soak you in colors, where even the palm of your hand becomes a canvas. We sat on the floor to enjoy the display; sometimes my child would jump in time with the movements of the artworks, sometimes she would lay down. We found out later that the halls are disinfected after each show because when we came back to take photos without the crowd, we smelled freshly sprayed disinfectants.
The paintings are blown up to become larger than life. Madonna’s head in “La Pietá” occupies an entire panel, while her son Jesus Christ is on another.
It’s the same with Napoleon, where his face is on one panel, while the facial features of his horse and its bloodshot eyes are given prominence on another. The entire show of Hall 2 lasts for roughly 30 minutes.
Immersive Hall 1 is called the Digital Garden of Dreams which is divided into four chapters, namely Atlas, DataGate or Dark Machine, Superstrings and Filipino Master. The Filipino Master is Luna, and it features “Spoliarium” and pictures of Filipino ilustrados.
At the preview, a string quartet from the Manila Symphony Orchestra provided the music. Alici said that the display’s mission is to give a visual representation to the movement of music.
The first area that will welcome you when you go in is the Curator’s Lounge, where a Philippine exclusive multimedia installation, Manila Realtime Data Artwork, can be found. Essentially, it’s an ocean of algorithmic waves that goes on and on, courtesy of the mirrors placed on both ends.
Tickets for the exhibit are P975 each, student pass is P780, while discount passes for PWD and seniors are P695. Each slot is good for one hour, which is enough for the entire show. The exhibit runs until October. We do want to caution that the flashes of lights and movements might trigger migraines or other health issues.
Is it something worth going to? Yes, especially if you have a curious child in tow. The sensation of moving without actually going anywhere can be epic for them. The exhibit also looks good on social media reels. But most of all, it is a fun multisensory stimulation that should be experienced at least once.