The much anticipated, Imagine Van Gogh the Immersive Exhibition is now open in Vancouver, and it is a must-see spectacle!
After a year of pandemic restrictions causing most of our entertainment to continue to be shuttered, Imagine Van Gogh is a welcome activity for everyone. The exhibition has been so well received that it expanded its run even before it opened the doors. The immersive exhibition is now showing at Vancouver Convention Centre (West) until August 29, 2021. If you missed out on tickets in the first two runs, now is your chance to plan ahead for summer.
While we are still dealing with Covid-19 restrictions, Imagine Van Gogh has made guests feel secure in their health and safety protocols. Timed-entry, contactless ticketing, limited capacity, health-check and contact tracing information is collected before even entering the Convention Centre. With the exhibition spread over 25,000 sq ft there is plenty of space to social distance from the other guests and allow yourself ample room to view the masterpieces presented before you.
Once you arrive, Imagine Van Gogh begins with a few panels of history about the producers of the exhibition and a brief biography of the Great Master himself. From his childhood in rural Netherlands, to his beginnings as a painter in Paris and Provence, meeting Gaugin, Toulouse-Lautrec and other painters of the day, his battles with mental health and finally his death at age 37 in 1890. As Van Gogh’s light goes out in his biography, guests step into the light of the immersive exhibition, as 25,000 square foot space opens before you with the familiar vibrant colours of his great works.
The presentation of the works of art is truly immersive, as the great hall of the Vancouver Convention Centre is transformed into a gallery with images of Van Gogh’s paintings, sketches and photographs projected from floor to ceiling. Some of the well-known pieces like The Starry Night, take over the whole space, so you feel completely within the painting. At other times aspects of painting are divided across the different walls to give a close-up view of the parts which make the whole. Then the room may feature a gallery of his portraits and self-portraits or turn in to a colourful garden of his famed studies on Sunflowers and Irises. Even if you do not think you know much of Van Gogh’s works, you will definitely find familiar images appearing before you and then find the beauty in discovering a new masterpiece.
Imagine Van Gogh The Immersive Experience is indeed a masterpiece that needs to be seen if you can. The exhibition now runs at Vancouver Convention Centre, 1055 Canada Place Way, until August 29, 2021. Hours are currently, open 9am-midnight daily (last entry 1 hour prior to closing, viewing takes about an hour) time will change for June, July and August. Tickets start at $39.99 for adults and $34.99 for children 4-15 years, Children 3 and under require a ticket but are free of charge. Visit imagine-vangogh.com/vancouver-information for details and to buy tickets.