Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, which has come to the McAllen convention center, was created two years ago and has exploded in popularity. The exhibit has traveled to 40 different cities with over 4 million tickets sold.
Art Historian for Beyond Van Gogh Fanny Curtat said this exhibit is not meant to be a replacement for a museum experience but rather a new way for people to see artwork from a different perspective.
“There’s nothing like the aura of an original Van Gogh. When you’re in front of that painting, something truly magical happens. But there is something so phenomenal about being able to just walk into it. To go beyond the frame, to be inside the painting itself so it is a great way to connect with the artwork,” Curtat said.
She said many people don’t appreciate art enough because they may feel like they don’t have the ability to create art themselves or understand what the artist is trying to convey.
“It’s really just about being present and that’s something that’s really showcased in an immersive experience. No matter how much you want to describe an immersive feeling, you truly have to be present to really truly grasp it and enjoy it. And that’s what art is all about,” Curtat said.
Mission High School Art Teacher Marisol Karam said she had already been to the exhibit herself and she loved everything about it.
“I was very inspired, I felt very peaceful while I was there,” Karam said. “Of course being an art teacher I just love Van Gogh’s work because to me the texture that he displays, his pieces are very evocative, they produce an emotion to me.”
She said she feels a responsibility to educate people on the life and history of Van Gogh because of how influential he has been to so many artists.
“I’m not going to lie, I felt a sadness knowing that he doesn’t even know how famous he is now, and how he inspires so many people like myself,” Karam said. “I’m always making sure I share Van Gogh’s work and a little bit about Van Gogh to my students.”
Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience features more than 300 of Van Gogh’s paintings brought to life using high resolution digital projections.
The exhibit will be featured in the Mcallen Convention Center until January 12.
To learn more about Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience you can visit their website at BeyondVanGogh.com https://beyondvangogh.com/
