Review: The Immersive Van Gogh Experience
A way to jump in to art after almost two years away
It was when my eyes welled up with tears that I decided the Immersive Van Gogh Experience was worth it. I have been away from museums and shows for about twenty months and something about the size and closeness of the visuals and the music hit me. It was beautiful.
The tickets, ranging from $29.99 for children in off-peak hours to $109.99 for VIP Flex during peak hours, and include a limited edition poster and Van Gogh cushion, are pricey for the short encounter. After the long pandemic hiatus, this might be valuable to the soul.
I took my wife, a hobbyist artist, on a date on a Friday afternoon in October to take time away from our children and be enveloped by the strokes of Vincent Van Gogh. We both had our moments of wonder hiding behind our masks and studied the colors from our different lenses.
Entering the Experience you are welcomed by a handful of large remixed Van Gogh pieces that explain some of his story. The ticket scanner directs you to a counter to get a cushion if you’ve bought Premium or VIP tickets. There are two large galleries showing the same digital presentation — one has only floor seating, the other has a handful of benches and mirrored structures.
The first gallery did not seem to have any social distancing, with strangers huddled at less than six feet. The exhibit in the second gallery provided circles on the floor that demonstrated socially distanced spots to sit. The distancing provided a sense of safety in an indoor activity shared with dozens of others. There was a missed opportunity to add to the experience by filling the galleries with movement — perhaps with dancers in the colors and textures of Van Gogh.
The run time of the Immersive Van Gogh Experience fell short, just 30 minutes, and left us wanting. Thinking there was more, we got up, returned our cushions, and were pointed to the gift shop. Given the chance to do it again, I’d probably sit through a second round and enjoy deconstructing shapes and angles, and feelings.
I did wonder what Vincent Van Gogh would think; the same way I’ve wondered what Pachelbel would think of Maroon 5’s use of Canon in D. Would Vincent be driven mad by the size of the spectacle, by the music matching the supposed emotion, or would he be thrilled that his paintings, never sold in his lifetime, are being admired across dozens of cities by paying customers?
After almost two years away from the arts, my guess is even Van Gogh would shed a tear.
The Immersive Van Gogh Experience is currently showing in over twenty US cities and in mine through February 2022.
Christian Alberto Ledesma — About the Author
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