Pictured is “Beyond van Gogh: The Immersive Experience.” Photo provided.

By Darla McCammon
and DeeAnna Muraski

My daughter, DeeAnna Muraski, and I are writing our second article in the “New” series about new museums and exhibits.

Last week, we used van Gogh’s “Starry Night” as an example of the broad availability of art today. This segues into new exhibits, specifically a new installment “Beyond van Gogh: The Immersive Experience.” The exhibit uses a series of projectors to project van Gogh’s artwork onto the floor, ceiling and wall to completely cover the space. Never before have we had the ability to walk under van Gogh’s “Starry Night” or walk amongst van Gogh’s “Sunflowers”; but now, thanks to this exhibit, we can.

Over 300 works of art are stretched from their limiting canvases into limitless imagination surrounding the viewer. Building on our discussion of art availability, the “Immersive Experience” is showing in over 40 cities in the U.S. at similar overlapping times. Previous to this innovative experience, exhibits would have to wait to be displayed in different cities as the artwork was physically moved and transported.

Speaking of van Gogh, you can view his self-portrait at Norway’s new Nasjonalmuseet museum touting 500,000 square feet and opening in June. The museum features a novel 25,000 square foot hall of light infusion. The blanket of light sitting atop the museum is akin to Frank Lloyd Wright’s use of clerestory windows to infuse light into the middle of a home. Through their light infusion, they also strive to create an experience while you view the artwork.

Closer to home, opening this summer, Miami Beach’s Reefline will house the first underwater art sculpture park stretching over seven miles of ocean front. Instead of strolling through a park to view sculptures you need to don your bathing suit, swim fins and snorkel to enjoy it. They took the immersive experience to the next level but worth the trip and COVID-friendly.

If you are really up for an adventure, you can travel over 8,500 miles to Bengaluru, India, to see a new museum. This museum was founded by a significant local businessman who proffered 18,000 pieces of his personal curated art collection to be viewed. If you cannot fly to Bengaluru Museum of Art and Photography, you can still experience the stunning displays via a unique digital museum tour. Not quite as immersive as the first two, unless you considered being immersed in a new culture when you travel there; however, it’s encouraging to have new art museums being built.

Coincidentally, the first reported art museum is not too far away from Bengaluru in present-day Iraq. Only architectural remains exhibit and it was originally designed by royalty and only for royal eyes to view. Thankfully, we have come a long way from that very narrow scope and narrow distribution of art. Thus, we encourage you to take advantage of new and old museums close by, and far away, to broaden your mind with new, interesting thoughts this year. C’est la vie!