Vancouverites starry-eyed for immersive Van Gogh exhibition

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Amid new pandemic restrictions, some of us may find ourselves strolling through a Wheatfield with Crows, gazing out at Fishing Boats on the Beach, or even looking up at a vast Starry Night from a Cafe Terrace at Night with those in our immediate household. With many of us trying to rearrange our plans to suit new travel restrictions, one thing that is still an option for those in the Vancouver Coastal Health region is Imagine Van Gogh!

The immersive exhibition that originated in Paris and has travelled across Canada recently announced it is extending its stay in Vancouver for the summer, meaning more people will get to enjoy another type of Starry Night — one projected onto eight-metre high screens inside downtown’s Canada Place.

The gorgeous exhibition allows guests to walk into the artwork, get fully illuminated by glittering stars, be surrounded by sunflowers, and dive eyes-first into Vincent Van Gogh’s post-impressionist imagination for a little escape.

 

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Since opening in March, Imagine Van Gogh Vancouver’s Publicist Marnie Wilson says Vancouverites have fallen in love with the exhibition.

“The response has been incredible. The exhibit sold out before we opened, and is currently sold out until mid-June,” she says.

The visual spectacle of more than 200 Van Gogh images, is accompanied by the music of classical composers including Saint-Saëns, Mozart, Bach, Delibes, and Satie.

For fans of Emily in Paris, the exhibition itself might look especially familiar! Various versions have toured around the world, and after successfully captivating Parisians in its debut year, Imagine Van Gogh brought its immersive experience to Canadians.

According to Wilson, the event “Has many of the same production elements in each city it has toured,” but she explains, “The creative is updated and adapted to each new city. Vancouver is seeing something new that no one else has!”’

 

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As with anywhere these days, masks must be worn at all times, hand sanitizer must be used prior to entry, and social distancing is required in the 25,000 square feet exhibition space.

The event is also designed as a completely touchless and contactless experience, and the team has consulted with local health authorities to ensure safety measures are exceeded. This includes contact tracing, and pre-screening questionnaires, limited capacity, and timed entries to operate in full accordance with British Columbia’s public health guidelines.

If you’re planning your visit, Wilson has some advice about how to make the most of it. She encourages guests to spend time in the Education Room, to “Prepare you for what you will experience in the Immersive Room where the exhibition takes place,” she says, adding, “There are educational panels that provide information on the artist, his work and life experiences, as well as how the exhibit came to be and the technology behind it.”

The exhibition runs until August 29, and tickets are available online.

Imagine Van Gogh
Location: 1055 Canada Place, Vancouver
Open until: August 29, 2021
Tickets: imagine-vangogh.com
Instagram: @imagine.van.gogh

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