Is it art? Is it just a really big screensaver? Find out at this new Monet exhibit
There’s a new immersive art experience in Miami. Should you work yourself into frenzy over seeing it?
Probably not, though as we all know, Miami excels at FOMO spiraling.
“Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience” is now open at downtown’s Ice Palace Studios, taking over the spot vacated at the end of last year by “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience.”
“Beyond Van Gogh,” which highlighted the life and times of the Dutch painter, caused a frenzy, possibly because it was first and also because it happened in spring 2021, when life felt new and the air smelled like vaccines and freedom from watching crap TV on Netflix.
It was swiftly followed by a second Van Gogh exhibit at The Olympia Theater, “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience.” This caused much confusion in Miami, where critical thinking and cognitive ability are as abundant as winter coats and mango hatred. People here have no idea the plastic barriers on I-95 mean you’re supposed to stay on your side of the express lanes. You can’t expect them to distinguish between competing events with similar titles.
In any case, we have now arrived at “Beyond Monet,” which gives the French Impressionist a shot at digital stardom, with 400 artworks brought to life through projection technology and set to music in a 50,000square-foot space with a gazebo-like structure in the center. The results, reminiscent of a really amazing screensaver, are made up of more than 4 trillion content pixels. We don’t really know what those are, but then again, we are from Miami.
Here are the vitally important things you need to know before you go:
YOU NEED ONLY A VAGUE INTEREST IN ART FOR ENTRY
“Beyond Monet” isn’t so much about examining the lasting value of the work by the French Impressionist. It’s more about how badly you need material for Insta and TikTok.
THERE IS A LOT OF READING INVOLVED
You enter the exhibit into a room with bilingual explanations of the artist and his work. This is good as there is not much context once you get into the “Infinity Room,” where the real stuff happens. If you don’t want to read it, take photos on the ornamental bridges left there for just that purpose.
THERE IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF STUMBLING AROUND IN THE DARK
Don’t be afraid; there are people in the shadows to guide you.
YOU CAN BECOME ONE WITH THE ARTWORK — KIND OF
The website assures you that you can “become one” with the paintings, which isn’t strictly true. But the colors will project on you, so wear white and take good video.
SOMETIMES, THE WHOLE THING LOOKS BETTER THROUGH YOUR PHONE
Seriously. Try it. Just not on that ancient iPhone 6S.
“WATER LILIES” ARE SLIGHTLY LESS IMPRESSIVE PROJECTED LIKE THIS
This isn’t exactly MoMA.
THERE ARE NOT-AT-ALL CHEESY SELFIE STATIONS AT THE END OF THE EXHIBIT
You can pose with flowers, umbrellas or a giant artist’s palette to fully complete your digital experience.
THE BANKSY EXHIBIT IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR
“Beyond Monet” takes about an hour of your time, so if you leave craving more art, walk next door and see “The Art of Banksy: Without Limits,” which is open through April 17. That way you only have to drive downtown once. Knowing how you probably drive, this is a good thing.
BEYOND MONET
Where: Ice Palace Studios, 1400 North Miami Ave., Miami
When: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday, Thurday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; closed Monday and Tuesday except Feb. 14 (hours 10 a.m.-8 p.m.). Runs through March 27
Tickets: $36.99-$46.99 for adults; $23.99-26.99 for children; discounts for students, seniors and military; miamimonet.com
Connie Ogle: 305-376-3649, @OgleConnie