VI
In the Metashow exhibition at Thiso Mall, Ho Chi Minh City, classical painting is recreated through the language of light, technology, and installation art, taking viewers on a journey through realms of memory, emotion, and imagination inspired by Van Gogh's famous masterpieces.
The exhibition is designed as a journey through 30 experiential spaces, each stop associated with a representative work or creative period in Van Gogh's life.
From the very first steps, visitors are transported into a world bathed in light, with bioluminescent rice stalks stretching across the surface of floating planets.
The system of mirrors and visual effects creates the sensation of standing in the middle of an endless field, reminiscent of "Wheat Field with Ravens"—a work often considered one of the final milestones in the artistic career of the Dutch master painter.
The first space recreates the artwork "Wheat Field with Crows".
From there, the journey continues, taking viewers to Arles, a town in southern France that was associated with Van Gogh's most intense creative years.
In the warm glow of yellow lights and the art-filled streets, the Starry Night space comes to life vividly. With just a touch, light and sound move simultaneously, making the stars seem to swirl in the sky instead of lying still on the canvas.
Visitors can interact with the space to witness unexpected changes.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is the visual spaces constructed from mirrors and light. The reflective labyrinth opens up a sense of endlessness, where the image of each person continuously multiplies in overlapping layers of space.
The constantly changing colors blur the line between reality and illusion, creating the sensation of floating in a weightless world.
The crystal tunnel extends that experience. White, blue, and violet light continuously reflects off the multifaceted surfaces, creating a multi-layered visual space. At the end of the journey, the image that remains is the viewer themselves.
Further beyond lies the boundless Milky Way, where countless points of light mimicking the starry sky spread across a continuous layer of reflections, creating the sensation of being lost in a universe without end.
The space, illuminated by multi-dimensional mirrors, creates an effect of endless expanse.
Amidst these technologically advanced spaces, the Arles Bedroom offers a moment of tranquility. The small room, furnished with familiar items recreated from famous Van Gogh paintings, allows visitors to step into the scenes depicted in the artwork and gain some insight into the artist's everyday life.
In addition, the 4K screening room showcases the story of his life and creative journey through multimedia projection technology, making the paintings seem to escape the canvas and become stepping spaces.
Numerous other interactive areas also contribute to the exhibition's appeal. From rotating corridors with constantly shifting lights and multi-dimensional kaleidoscopes to seemingly endless, repeating mirror mazes, everything is designed to deceive the senses of direction and space.
The combination of installation art and modern technology creates experiences that are both exciting and visually challenging.
The artwork's space, the Bedroom in Arles, allows visitors to transform themselves into the renowned painter Van Gogh.
The revolving corridor offers an engaging visual experience.
Another popular stop is the subway compartment inspired by the painting "Almond Blossoms" (1890). The space, filled with spring colors, evokes a sense of new beginnings and the quiet blossoming of life.
Opposite is the Moon Dream area, where visitors can capture photos amidst the magical scene of small boats drifting under a starry sky.
While the shades of blue and light created a dreamy atmosphere in many of the previous areas, the Sea of Roses blankets the journey in a more vibrant hue. Thousands of red flowers form a vast space symbolizing love and eternal beauty.
360-degree recording technology allows for capturing the entire scene from every angle, where the color red almost completely dominates the space.
A sea of roses once again blanketed the journey in a vibrant hue.
The tour concludes with a sea of vibrant yellow sunflowers – an image inextricably linked to Van Gogh. The flowers are arranged from floor to ceiling, creating a space overflowing with yellow, a final farewell to viewers after their journey through the world of the 19th-century painter.
In addition to interactive experiences, Metashow also presents Van Gogh's works in chronological order. This arrangement helps viewers better track the changes in his artistic style as well as the memorable milestones in his artistic life.
Van Gogh's works are presented in chronological order.
The exhibition is structured as a journey through time, where the public has the opportunity to explore the beauty of 19th-century Europe through painting, while simultaneously experiencing the complex inner workings of an artistic genius. Each space is expected to serve as a bridge between the past and the present, between classic masterpieces and contemporary experiences.
Through its multimedia exhibition model, Metashow aims to bring new cultural experiences to visitors to Ho Chi Minh City, where art is no longer just for viewing but becomes a journey that can be experienced through multiple senses.
