Van Gogh Alive, The Experience | AD

Despite not being famous in his own lifetime Van Gogh’s art has transcended generations to intrigue and inspire people of all ages.  His artwork is some of the most recognizable in the world and if you ask most people to name any artist past or present you will often find his name at the top of the list.  His work has movement, flow, emotion, and thanks to the team behind Van Gogh Alive people now have an opportunity to see these stunning works again in a new, immersive experience.  I was lucky enough to attend Van Gogh Alive on its last evening in London courtesy of Timothy James & Partners, a wealth management company based in London.

I’ll be completely honest, my art knowledge isn’t the best and I was amazed by how much I learned during this experience.  The first room of Van Gogh Alive goes through his life and art in a chronological timeline which really helped me piece together how his artworks related to each other, and what he was going through personally at the time.  Through his personal struggles and battles with mental health, he managed to create artwork so moving, unique and beautiful that they are still highly talked about today.

One of his most recognizable artworks, The Bedroom, is recreated here in the exhibition as a living 3D set.  What was most intriguing here was how they managed to keep the surreal perspectives of the room, even in sculptural artwork.  Everything looks 2D and 3D at the same time in a way that is hard to explain, it’s really mesmerizing.

Then it was onto the main part of the event, the immersive multisensory area which is transformed via Sensory4 Technology to engage the sights, smells, and sounds of his artwork to bring them to life.  This projection show surrounds the audience as it goes through different periods of his artwork and allows you to really be fully immersed in it.  The room is large with many different areas so you can wander through it taking it in or settle yourself on the floor, get comfortable, and relax as you breathe it all in.  It’s a fantastic performance that allows you to see the art with fresh eyes.  The show is split into five movements The Netherlands, Paris, Aries, Saint-Remy, Auvers-Sur-Oise, and Self Portraits and each has its own musical score.

Of course, it would not be a Van Gogh event without sunflowers!  The Insta-worthy sunflower room is the perfect place to grab a snap to put across your socials.  It just has to be done, right?

Finally, there is one final activity before your experience has to end, a draw-along class.  In just 10 minutes you can grab an easel and pencil and follow along with the video instructions to create your own version of a Van Gogh masterpiece.  My drawing skills are best described as ‘questionable’ at best but even I managed to create something of note in this quick-paced workshop.  There are a few different Van Gogh pieces to choose from so you could even stay and try them all!

Of course, this event would be possible without its sponsors.  Timothy James have a huge appreciation for art and are proud to be an official sponsor of the Van Gogh Alive – The Experience in London.  Although this event has now sadly left London you can catch it on its next stop in Manchester, tickets are available directly from the Van Gogh Alive website, and tickets are £23.50 for adults.  What’s the best art show you have ever been to?