A Review of The Immersive Van Gogh Experience

Written by Juanita ‘Obi Juan’ Bonner

Even if you have no idea who Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) is, most will recognize his work. He’s definitely well known for his paintings like The Starry Night, Sunflowers and Blossoming Almond Tree. However, it’s worth noting that van Gogh also has drawings, watercolors, graphic works and letter sketches. Overall, his ability to create mesmerizing scenes with repetitive swirls, strokes and intense colors, particularly in his paintings, are utterly unique unto him. He produced thousands of works throughout his life and in less than 10 years, he created almost 900 paintings yet only sold ONE before his death in 1890. WOW!! A tragic story overall, Vincent, who lived in poverty the majority of his life, died from an infection following a self-inflicted gunshot wound after years of struggling with mental health issues. *SIGH* Fortunately, his art lives on as he is now viewed as one of the most influential artists in history. And, as a longtime fan, I was ecstatic to see that this exhibit made its way to the Denver Metro area. I wasted no time planning a November trip from Grand Junction for an unforgettable birthday adventure and I’m here to give you the rundown on one heck of an homage to my favorite artist. So, here we Gogh! *WINK*
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Background:
Beginning in the 2000s, the first immersive van Gogh experience took place in Europe and has since spread to several major cities across the globe. Including New York, Dubai and Toronto. Each display, is tailored to the venue and creates an entire enveloping experience using pixels, sounds, mirrors and light. All have designated benches and circles on the floor to not only help with social distancing, but to create several spaces where one can stop to enjoy the surroundings. Other artists have been featured as well, but none are as popular as van Gogh. I mean… DUH!!! LOL.

The original exhibit was created by Annabelle Mauger then later picked up and mastered for the masses by digital art expert Massimiliano Siccardi from Italy. Siccardi’s work is supported by composer Luca Longobardi’s – known for mixing classical and contemporary music – while Vittorio Guidotti serves as Creative Director of Animations. More on the artists and exhibit co-founders and producers can be seen here. Let’s move on to the Denver exhibit, shall we? Which was created by Emmy and Tony Award-winning designer, David Korins. 

Denver:
Located at the Lighthouse Denver (3900 Elati Street), the site is just west of the River North Art District, and is visible from the interstate and fairly easy to get to. Even for me… the one who hates driving in the city… lol!!

The work boasts over 60,000 frames of video using 500,000 cubic feet of projections and 90,000,000 (YES, MILLION!!) pixels. Some exhibits have multiple rooms, and even stairs, to move to and from. Denver in particular has two single level rooms. One has all the projections towards the surrounding walls. In the other, the projections cover everything from the walls to the floors AND YOU and it’s AWESOME!! There are various mirror towers and displays as well allowing the images to reflect making the rooms seem bigger and the pixels bolder. A spectacular display of color and emotion fill each room. Video and photos are supplements, but have nothing on the in-person experience. Even my review and slide show, though helpful, scarcely compares!

In addition, the sound composition greatly enhance the visuals and it’s absolute bliss to watch the scenes morph. Taking you through various periods of creativity for van Gogh, each sequence drifts from a small starting point and evolves into a fully immersive piece of art. The colors are amazing and at times, it feels like the pixels are actually paint moving across canvas. It’s mesmerizing, soothing and all encompassing. Especially in room two were everything is covered. Even if you’re not a huge fan of van Gogh, the visuals are just too good to miss!! And with a VIP ticket, you can stay and soak up this experience as long as you like. Which is exactly what I did… LOL!!

To explain further, this was my first time seeing a collection of van Gogh’s works and continually, I was overcome with awe inspiring delight as each frame fade from one to the next. Even in the moments of quiet and darkness, I was moved while still digesting what I had just seen. The swirls and brush strokes dance and slide across the walls. The flowers grow. The grass waves. The crows fly. In short… I was absolutely and utterly God smacked into oblivious exhilaration!! And while surrounded by strangers in the dark, I silently wept out of jubilation!!

From beginning to end, the runtime is less than 40 minutes and because people constantly come and go, you can move freely to see different angles and projections. Of course, you’re also welcome to find a spot and stay there. Though, I highly recommend moving around. At the very least, even the most basic ticket price will allow you to watch one full run from each room.

Wrapping up, I’ll leave you with some pros and cons as well as recommendations to improve your visit and of course… a SLIDE SHOW!!  

Pros:
Starting with the obvious… the biggest pro is that the exhibit is absolutely stunning!! I mean… seriously, I literally cannot say this enough. In fact, because you can often enter in the middle of a run, I stayed through multiple sessions to get photos, move from room to room and to simply just bask in awe at the changing scenes.

Open to all ages and running 7 days a week, excluding major holidays, makes planning quite convenient. And with multiple price points available – Basic, Premium or VIP, I would certainly classify this exhibit as fairly budget flexible. The Premium is a sweet spot for flex timing/perks and a limited edition poster and the use of the special edition cushion. But VIPsters, amongst getting the other Premium perks, can keep the cushion along with a souvenir laminate card. HECK YEAH!!!

There are also other ways to enjoy the experience beyond the average daily ticket choices including Date Night Packages and Yoga Classes. NEAT!! Plus, groups of 10 or more can receive a discount.
Next, beyond the already provided benches, there are also extra chairs to use upon request and the cushions, work great as well!

The gift shop is packed full of items for one to commemorate their experience. Though, the prices can be pretty steep overall. You can also spy something and shop online for it later. I opted for the Exhibit Catalogue, a pair of socks, a mousepad and some magnets. WOOT!!

Cons:
With the lowest price for off peak tickets at $39.99 and peak at $54.99 plus taxes and fees for each, some have criticized the price of the exhibit. Also, I went to this exhibit twice within a few days of each other and I honestly couldn’t tell the difference from peak to off peak. It was busy and full of people the entire time. Additionally, as noted above, the gift shop is wildly expensive. My mouse pad, though quite large, was $14.99 plus tax. For a mouse pad?? YIKES!!

Also, if you indulged in the higher priced packages, be aware that some of the extras, like the seat cushion, have run out at various times. The company will email you when your gift is back in stock, but they are not equipped to mail items. This means, if you traveled from outside Denver, someone will need to pick the piece up for you or you lose out. And because there are no refunds on ticketing, I will assume there are no partial refunds either.*WahWah*

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your Immersive van Gogh Experience.

Recommendations:
1. Though it’s possible to do so, do not just show up!! Get your tickets in advance rather than directly at the box office. This will allow you to plan better and hopefully avoid peak times. It also affords you the time to see what type of ticket you want – Basic, Premium or VIP.

2. Keep in mind, the building – formerly the Regency Hotel – is also a housing unit for Assembly Student living. Therefore the main parking lot is reserved for tenants. Exhibit parking is just inside the street entrance on an unpaved, dirt only lot which can be tricky for disabled, elderly, etc., especially in wet weather. Consider dropping off those who have difficulty walking at the main entrance. Which, by the way, is on the far side of the building from parking.

3. Even though 5 and under are free, I would not recommend bringing babies or even really small children. Though I did see full families, space is limited and things like strollers appeared difficult to manage, especially in the dark. And speaking of the dark, this may prove somewhat problematic for the elderly, disabled and/or those with spatial awareness difficulties. Additionally, if you’re at all prone to motion sickness, the large landscapes, changing themes and bright lights can be disorienting so be cautious. Plan ahead by using anti-motion sickness aids such as non-drowsy chews or motion bands. Also, those prone to seizures from bright and/or flashing lights should avoid the exhibit or visit with extreme caution.

4. And finally, keep in mind the sound can be rather loud and intense. As noted in the FAQs, along with everything else discussed here, ear plugs are available at the gallery. Though, it does not say whether they are free or not so it’s probably best to bring your own as a precaution.

Conclusion:
I absolutely fell in love with this exhibit and would definitely visit again in any area it might be. I have certainly day dreamed about what other venues might hold and there are plenty of pictures and videos online. Additionally, when purchasing tickets, you’re asked what other immersive experiences you might be interested in. I chose Dali and Escher. What will you choose??

As you move through the pictures, you will see shots from various angles in both rooms as well as outside the exhibit. Note the Date Night seating – located in room 2 – as it gives you an excellent wall/floor view as well as a corner and entry way to compare and contrast between the two rooms. Though this seating cannot be accessed, it’s in the open and the angles can still be viewed by anyone. For me, the entryways were my favorite spots because the visuals ran between them creating a shared yet distinctly separate experience. It was fun to peer between the two AND to watch the visuals climb up the corners!!

As a final reminder: Things like lights, sound and darkness may pose problems for certain individuals. Parking may be tricky too, especially at peak times. With my recommendations in mind, step outside your comfort zone if you can. For, “Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.” – Vincent van Gogh

Enjoy!!!

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