Not one but two immersive Van Gogh experiences are coming to London in 2021.
Earlier this month, we announced that a multi-sensory Van Gogh exhibition is arriving in London later this year. But it would now appear that that statement is double true, as another Van Gogh experience has joined the party, and is coming to the capital in the summer. (What’s that old saying about buses? You wait ages for one to show, and then two come along at once. Buses… immersive Van Gogh exhibitions… it’s all the same.)
Yes, I suppose you’re right, this could get quite confusing. But we’re here to give you the low-down of the two, and ultimately help you decide which one you’d like to get tickets for.
Immersive Van Gogh experience number one, aptly called Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, is hitting the capital in September. Here you’ll be able to step inside the artist’s famous masterpieces, with a 360-degree digital spectacle that will totally transform the stunning east London stable building it’s set to take over. The exhibition, brought to life by Exhibition Hub and leading entertainment discovery platform Fever, first premiered in a Neapolitan cathedral back in 2018, and has since visited the likes of Brussels, Beijing and Tel Aviv, to much acclaim. It’s currently operating in Austria and Belgium, and its recent launch in the States was met with a great reception. Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience offers an entirely new way of experiencing art, bringing every stunning detail to life like never before. Tickets are on sale now, and you can get your hands on them here.
Next up you’ve got Van Gogh Alive, arriving in the summer. This exhibition, created by Grande Exhibitions, has delighted visitors all over the world, and it’s finally appearing in London’s gorgeous Kensington Gardens in July. There’ll be a stunning sunflower room, a 3D recreation of Van Gogh’s famous paintings of his bedroom, and so much more — all “set to an evocative classical score”. Tickets aren’t on sale just yet, but if this sounds like your cup of tea then rumour has it that you should set your alarms for 9am on March 24 and head over to their website.
So, let’s recap:
Is there just one immersive London Van Gogh exhibition, or multiple?
As mentioned, there are two different Van Gogh exhibitions coming to London this year.
- Van Gogh Alive by Grande Exhibitions, opening in July.
- Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience by Exhibition Hub and Fever, opening in September.
What is the difference between the two exhibitions?
Both experiences highlight Van Gogh’s paintings in a unique way; bringing the famous works to life using different elements of colour, sound and light.
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience:
- The experience will last around 60-75 minutes.
- The exhibit showcases state-of-the-art video mapping technology, available to only a handful of companies in the world, to create a truly immersive experience that provides its audience with a new, intimate understanding of this post-impressionist genius and his work.
- The experience also features an additional, one-of-a-kind VR experience, and large scale video mapping technology.
Van Gogh Alive:
- While the main feature of the exhibition lasts approximately 45 minutes, the full experience will take around 60-90 minutes.
- This exhibition uses SENSORY4™ technology that combines multi-channel motion graphics, cinema quality surround sound and up to forty high-definition projectors.
Where are they going to be in London?
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience will transform former horse and carriage repository, Commercial 106, in Spitalfields. The Van Gogh Alive exhibition will be taking place at Kensington Gardens.
Which one is ‘the Emily in Paris one’?
Actually, neither of these exhibitions were featured on the popular Netflix show, Emily in Paris. That was a different one altogether called Van Gogh, Starry Night, organised by L’Atelier des Lumières. Still, both London exhibitions feature a large-scale Van Gogh image projection experience that will remind visitors of the experience featured on Emily in Paris.
Which of the two London Van Gogh exhibitions should I go to?
That’s for you to decide! But, of course, ‘both’ is always an option.
Are they both COVID-19 compliant?
Since all the art is digital, both exhibitions are entirely touch-free, socially-distant events. Both websites promise limited numbers (thanks to strict time slots), mask requirements, and more.
And finally, how do I get tickets?
- Tickets for London’s edition of Van Gogh Alive will launch on March 24 at 9am, according to Time Out.
- Tickets for Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience are on sale now over on their website. Prices start from £19.90 for adults, with discounts available for children, families and NHS workers.