Visitors at the exhibition. — VNS Photo Ly Ly Cao

By Ly Ly Cao

HÀ NỘI — Art lovers in Hà Nội will soon be able to step inside the world of Vincent van Gogh as Van Gogh Timeless, a large-scale licensed multisensory exhibition combining art and cutting-edge technology, prepares to welcome visitors in the capital.

The exhibition was officially launched on August 12 and will open to the public from August 21 at the UDIC Westlake Building in Phú Thượng, Hà Nội. 

Organised by Emerart with ABBank as exclusive sponsor, the exhibition features 165 works by the Dutch master reinterpreted through immersive digital technologies.

Artists perform at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

Rather than presenting artworks within conventional frames, Van Gogh Timeless surrounds visitors with projected images, light, sound and colour, turning viewing into an interactive experience.

The exhibition incorporates technologies including 3D mapping projection, virtual and augmented reality (VR-AR), LiDAR and surround sound, alongside research into sound frequencies and their emotional effects.  

3D mapping technology turns paintings into a moving world, where viewers become part of the artwork. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

Around 74 projectors are used to produce more than 613 million pixels simultaneously, according to the organisers.

Spanning nearly 4,000 square metres, the exhibition comprises 13 experiential zones, built around the exclusive concept 'Van Gogh and Light Through Civilisations'. 

Light and technology are used as storytelling tools. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

The journey explores the role of light in Van Gogh's imagination and paintings while connecting it with the evolution of human civilisations.

Visitors move through environments inspired by some of the artist's most recognisable imagery, from golden wheat fields and star-filled skies to vibrant sunflowers.

The famous 'Starry Night' painting by Vincent Vvan Gogh at the exhibition. — VNS Photo Ly Ly Cao

Light and technology are used as storytelling tools to explore Van Gogh's life, creative aspirations and artistic legacy for contemporary audiences.

A Vincent van Gogh's masterpiece displayed at the exhibition. — VNS Photo Ly Ly Cao

Dr Hồ Khánh Vân from the Faculty of Literature and Linguistics at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University-HCM City, travelled from HCM City to Hà Nội specifically for the opening, driven by her long-standing passion for Van Gogh.

She said the combination of physical displays and immersive technology allowed audiences to approach the artist and his works from different perspectives.

"The organisers have been very creative in finding ways for painting to touch people's hearts," Vân told Việt Nam News.

"The physical paintings displayed here allow us to come closer to Van Gogh's art while also becoming more emotionally connected to his life and fate, his aspirations and his determination throughout his creative journey."

Masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh are recreated in a large-scale projection space. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

For Vân, technology provides another bridge between audiences and the artist, transforming traditional paintings into a new experience capable of stimulating imagination.

"Applying technology helps us overcome those distances and approach Van Gogh's paintings in a fresh and creative form," she said.

"It encourages us to imagine how traditional art can take on new forms so that its legacy can continue and reach younger generations."

Around 74 projectors are used at the exhibition. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

Vũ Thị Thu Quỳnh, co-founder of Emerart, said the exhibition was designed to reduce the distance traditionally separating audiences from artworks.

"Each masterpiece is an artistic story reflecting culture and iconic artistic values," she said. 

"We created the exhibition to remove the invisible boundaries between art and life. Instead, we create a space where visitors can immerse themselves in those inspiring values."

The organisers said the internationally licensed project comes as cultural industries are increasingly being viewed as an important component of urban development, with technology-based exhibitions providing new ways for audiences to engage with international art. — OVN/VNS