Two new immersive art exhibits will transform the way you experience classic masterpieces. Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet offer visitors an opportunity to step inside some of history’s most celebrated paintings through state-of-the-art projection technology and thoughtful digital animation.
It’s called Beyond Monet and Beyond Van Gogh, and both exhibits are set up at the Oregon Convention Center through January 5. The exhibits opened up on October 29. We got tickets for Beyond Van Gogh, but you can also get tickets for Beyond Monet or a ticket that includes both experiences.
The Beyond Van Gogh immersive art experience showcases the artist’s work through a series of projections that cover walls, floors, and architectural features with moving imagery. The hall in the Oregon Convention Center is huge, and they have benches set up, so you can sit for practically as long as you like and absorb it all. The videos run continuously, so there’s no jarring start or end to the experience. It’s amazing to see brush strokes appear in larger-than-life size. The floral still lifes are so up close and look so fresh you can almost smell them. Van Gogh’s strokes swirl and transform, water ripples close enough to make you feel like you’re walking along the harbor next to Van Gogh’s “Moored Boats.”
Subtle movements within Van Gogh’s numerous self-portraits — it caught me off guard to see him blink! — really bring him to life. I really loved the video of “Starry Night” and “Almond Blossoms.” For “Starry Night,” the brush stokes swirl across the dark background before coalescing into the famous painting. For “Almond Blossom,” the branches appear on the video as if being painted by watercolor, then the petals fall in a flurry of soft white. It’s mesmerizing!
There are other immersive art exhibits, but this one was nice because of the floor-to-ceiling projections that showcase the art at monumental scale. Synchronized audio of soothing music complements the visual experience
Both immersive art exhibits can be experienced separately or as a combined ticket package. While we got to enjoy Van Gogh’s bold color choices and expressive brushstrokes, I want to go back and see Monet’s mastery of light and water in this same large scale.
Whether you’re an art history buff or simply looking for an innovative cultural experience, these exhibitions deliver an unforgettable journey through some of art history’s most important works. We saw the exhibit at the Oregon Convention Center. This is a traveling exhibit, so keep an eye out for a visit near you! Right now, you can get tickets in Greenville, South Carolina, and Portland, Oregon.
Monday – Thursday: 10 am – 8 pm (last entry 7 pm)
Friday & Saturday: 10 am – 9 pm (last entry 8 pm)
Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm (last entry 5 pm)
Holiday Schedule:
November 28-29: 10am – 5pm (last entry 4pm)
December 24 & 31: 10am – 5pm (last entry 4pm)
Closed:
November 5 & 11
December 11 & 25
January 1
Oregon Convention Center, Exhibit Hall E
777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., Portland