First Look At Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience In Singapore Ft. Bedroom Replica, Themed Cafe & More
After a long wait, Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience is finally in Singapore and ready to open its doors on 1 March at Resorts World Sentosa. If you're still on the fence about buying tickets for it, check out our review of the exhibition:
As you might have surmised from the cover image, this Van Gogh-themed attraction isn't a traditional museum. Its unique way of presenting art is more in tune with the current era of Tiktok and Instagram and offers a relaxed and unintimidating art-viewing experience. Rather than the actual paintings, Van Gogh's works are showcased through a creative blend of art, storytelling and technology.
It begins with a walk through hallways lined with canvas prints and digital displays of the artist's most famous paintings, including his self portraits. As gentle, atmospheric music played and Van Gogh blinked in the digital paintings, we couldn't help but get magical feels with how it reminded us of Hogwarts Castle in the Harry Potter films.
Venturing further inside, we reached the About the Artist segment with interactive installations, artwork displays and monographics. This was the most informative section of the museum, offering an in-depth look into Van Gogh's life, including his siblings and the story behind some of his art pieces.
Photo from H&B
Next, we entered the Anamorphose room, which housed three 3D interpretations of Van Gogh's works. The highlight was a life-sized, 3D replica of Van Gogh's bedroom in Arles, France, that was famously depicted in his painting The Bedroom.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
Of course, I couldn’t resist posing for a photo here. The walls and objects have a 2D painting-style effect, creating the illusion that I was inside an oil painting! And besides the cool photo op, it was also fascinating to step into a space that's similar to where Van Gogh spent a substantial amount of time in.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
Next was a smaller yet still captivating prelude to The Immersive Room. This space was filled with 3D projections depicting Japanese art, as a nod to the Japonisme movement that influenced Van Gogh. There will be matcha tea demonstrations at specific time slots, and you can enjoy a complimentary drink by matchaya as you're basking in the gorgeous projections.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
After that, we found ourselves in the pièce de résistance of the exhibition - The Immersive Room. We were awestruck as colourful projections covered every surface of the expansive room, elegantly transitioning into various art pieces from Starry Night to Sunflowers, while sweeping orchestral music brought on the drama.
We settled into comfy folding chairs and let the art wash over us quite literally. Flowers bloomed, waves crashed, painting brushstrokes floated, and petals flew in the "wind" from one corner to the other. The exhibition promised an immersive experience that made visitors feel like they're a part of the paintings, and it certainly delivered!
Here's a photo-taking tip: be decisive about your pose, position and angle, and assign the most efficient person as your photographer. The projections change fairly rapidly and the entire projection lasts about 40 minutes, playing on a loop. That means you’ll have to wait 40 minutes to get the same background again.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
At the last stop is an interactive activity where you can create your very own art piece and scan your finished artwork to see it on the live screen.
Photo from H&B
There's also an optional VR experience ($5) where participants will be brought on a 10-minute journey on "A Day in the Life of the Artist in Arles." It features more than 300 of Van Gogh's iconic sketches, drawings, and paintings displayed on over 15,000-square-feet of projection surface.
Photo from H&B
If you're not ready for the Van Gogh-themed experience to end after the exhibition, head to the thematic cafe space where you'll find a range of Janice Wong bites and sweet treats. Among them are exclusive Van Gogh-themed chocolates in vibrant hues and tones reminiscent of the artist's distinctive style. A selection of exclusive exhibition merchandise, like tote bags and prints will also be available for purchase.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
Needless to say, Instagrammers and Tiktokers will absolutely adore this Van Gogh exhibition. Those not in that group may find the projections a little boring after the initial wow factor. As an apathetic social media user, I had a blast at the exhibition simply for the cathartic experience. If you like the idea of a relaxing and fun time exploring Van Gogh's art, you won't have regrets adding those tickets to your cart!
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience Ticket Prices in Singapore
Mondays to Thursdays:
- Adult (13+) - $24
- Children (4 - 12) - $15
- Seniors (65+) & Students - $18
- Family Bundle (4+ tickets, max. 2 adults) - $16 per person
Fridays to Sundays:
- Adult (13+) - $29
- Children (4 - 12) - $18
- Seniors (65+) & Students - $22
- Family Bundle (4+ tickets, max. 2 adults) - $19 per person
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience in Singapore
Date: 1 March to 1 October 2023
Opening Hours: Mon, Wed and Thurs: 11 am – 8 pm; Fri & Sats: 10 am – 9 pm; Sun: 10 am – 7 pm. Closed on Tuesdays.
Location: Resorts World Sentosa, B1 Forum, 8 Sentosa Gateway, S098269
Wheelchair accessible
Book tickets: vangoghexpo.com/singapore
