When you look at a priceless painting, do you ever wonder what it would be like to be in the scene it depicts, surrounded by the creator’s brushstrokes and emotions?
Those who answered “yes” can experience something like it when two immersive art exhibitions collide next month in Portland.
See the works of Claude Monet, aka the father of impressionism painting, and post-impressionist master Vincent van Gogh when “Beyond Monet” and “Beyond Van Gogh” open at the Oregon Convention Center on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Folks who attended “Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” when it visited Portland in 2021 will already be familiar with the exhibit’s format; the difference this time is that guests can buy tickets to enjoy “Van Gogh” or “Monet” individually or both in the same day.
Freed from their frames
Visitors walk through large, open rooms where projections of the painters’ artworks cover the walls and floors. Original scores accompany you as you move through the spaces, taking in every detail of hundreds of famous works, including “The Starry Night” and “Poppies,” magnified many times over.
While you won’t see thick dabs of paint on canvas as you would standing next to the original paintings, the “Beyond” experiences put a unique spin on traditional trips to an art museum.
“Through cutting-edge technology, these immersive experiences are redefining what art means to people,” says Paquin Entertainment Group’s President of Exhibitions and Theatrical, Justin Paquin. “It has elevated artwork to the next level, allowing audiences to develop deeper connections with notable masterpieces that were just not possible in previous years.”
Tickets for “Beyond Monet” and “Beyond Van Gogh” go on sale Thursday, Sept. 19 at 9 a.m. There’s also an optional add-on virtual reality experience showcasing van Gogh’s personal letters to his brother.