Van Gogh alive
(Instagram)
2 min read

A misunderstood genius is the way Vincent Van Gogh exists in the public imagination and now thousands of works from the Dutch post-impressionist artist are now being projected onto shipping containers in New Zealand to bring the artworks to life.

In a world-first, Melbourne company Grande Exhibitions are using state of the art technology to project the Van Gogh artwork onto shipping containers stacked three-high in an outdoor gallery on Wellington’s waterfront.

Visitors are being treated to a 45-minute immersive journey, enjoying the Dutch artist’s works on a monumental scale, and creating the sensation of walking right into the master’s paintings.

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An evocative musical score adds to the incredibly vibrant colours and vivid details of Van Gogh’s work as the projections tower above and around you.

The brainchild of Melbourne-based Bruce Peterson, Digital Nights – Van Gogh Alive uses Grande Exhibitions’ state-of-the-art SENSORY4™ immersive gallery which allows for the projection of enormous crystal-clear images.

Peterson said he is extremely proud of the fact that Grande Exhibitions really has redefined the way art and culture are enjoyed by enormous numbers of people around the world.

“I am absolutely thrilled, especially in these crazy surreal times, to be able to showcase our artistry and technical talents under the outdoor skies of New Zealand for the very first time,” Peterson said.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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In all, 52 containers were used to support about 350 tonnes of weight, with 21 projectors and 12 speakers to create the overall experience.

This experience has travelled to more than 50 cities across the globe, from Abu Dhabi to Xiamen, but Wellington is the first to host the experience under the night sky.

Van Gogh Alive (Instagram)
Van Gogh Alive (Instagram)

Wellington Mayor Andy Foster said Digital Nights is a picture-perfect way to launch Wellington’s major events calendar following the disruption caused by Covid-19.

“Big events have always played a pivotal role in attracting visitors to Wellington,” Mayor Foster said.

“It[Digital Nights – Van Gogh Alive] will help fill our hotels and boost spending in both the retail and hospitality sectors.

“But it’s not just for out-of-towners. I’m sure Wellingtonians will take the opportunity to be amazed and entertained in a unique way by the giant digital works of one of the world’s most famous and influential artists.”

Last Updated on Aug 29, 2020


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