One of the things that I have missed throughout the pandemic is museum visits. It doesn’t matter if it’s a local exhibit close to home, or something grand across the globe; I enjoy them all. It’s a wonderful feeling to get lost in the beauty, history, and culture of these magical places.

So, I guess it wasn’t surprising when a friend suggested that I visit the “Beyond Van Gogh” exhibit which had made its way to San Diego.  I quickly purchased two tickets and announced to my husband that we were having a “date day.” While we weren’t quite sure what to expect, we were open to something new.

The “immersive experience” beautifully features the life and work of Vincent Van Gogh in digital form. Yes, it’s all digital. There are no walls filled with framed pieces or glass cases filled with artifacts. Instead, everything is projected in high-resolution images. According to the program literature, the true beauty lies in having “masterpieces freed from the frame.”  

The entrance was filled with a series of slides that highlighted biographical information and provided an overall timeline. The heart of the exhibit featured a very large gallery where the walls and floors were covered with over 300 pieces of Van Gogh’s work. Images appeared and faded and would differ depending on where one was standing. I never saw the same paintings twice even though we took our time and tried to absorb it all.

To be fully surrounded by works such as “Starry Night”, “Almond Blossoms” and “Sunflowers” was pretty incredible. The montage was choreographed in an engaging manner and was accompanied by a musical score that was created for the production. Quotes from Van Gogh were woven throughout which lent the artist’s voice to the experience.

We definitely enjoyed our time and appreciated this unique way to view art. Even without the framed pieces, I lost myself in the beauty. As I later reflected on the visit, there were a few themes that spoke to me:

• The first was Van Gogh’s deep appreciation for nature. He enjoyed the outdoors and found the blue skies and fresh air to be therapeutic and necessary for well-being. My favorite quote was, “If one truly loves nature, one finds beauty everywhere.”  This love was evident in the bold colors which celebrated the fields, mountain tops, flowers and trees.

• The second was the strong connection between Vincent and his brother Theo. Throughout Van Gogh’s troubled life, his brother was a constant who provided unconditional support (both moral and financial). When Vincent failed as an art dealer, educator and minister, it was Theo who encouraged him to pursue painting. It was the type of relationship that everyone should be fortunate to have in their lives.
  
  
• And the final theme was that of artistic growth. Too often, we like to believe that some people are just born with a special gift. In reality, the gift is the product of dedicated practice and learning. Van Gogh did not start off with grand masterpieces. His work began with sketches he would doodle on correspondence. He later attended art school and spent years honing his craft and developing new techniques.

I guess it’s understandable that an appreciation for nature, need for unconditional love, and a desire to learn and achieve would transcend time.

If you have the opportunity, I would recommend visiting the “Beyond Van Gogh” exhibit. While it has limitations, it’s still a worthwhile date. From what I have read, these types of multi-media presentations are going to become much more common. Apparently, there is one in the works for the artist, Frida Kahlo (which sounds absolutely amazing).  And while they will never replace the true museum experience, they still expose people (of all ages) to the world of art, and to the artists who continue to inspire us.