A multi-sensory experience in the "Van Gogh universe"

The Lume, Australia's first digital art gallery, has officially opened its doors to the public in Melbourne. The first experience offered by The Lume is an adventure into the magical world of the life and works of Van Gogh: “Van Gogh Alive”.

As the intellectual property of Grande Experiences, an Australian-based arts organization,Van Gogh AliveThis isn't the first multi-sensory exhibition on Van Gogh. The art project has been held in over 50 cities worldwide, following its debut in Paris, France, in 2019 under the title “La nuit étoilée”. After numerous successes in Europe, Asia, and the United States, this year the exhibition returns to Australia, coinciding with the opening of the first The Lume center in Melbourne.

Van Gogh AliveIt was scheduled to open in September, but was postponed until early November due to the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak in Melbourne.

Almost everyone has seen at least one of Van Gogh's paintings: Starry Night, The Night Café, the Sunflowers series, or his self-portrait. Van Gogh's paintings are among the most familiar and famous works of art in history.

But it is also certain that, historically, no one has ever been able to experience Van Gogh's paintings in such a unique way.

Here, you don't need to remain silent. The moment you step into the exhibition space, a powerful and resonant symphony of light, color, captivating images, and intoxicating aromas will transport you out of your own world and open up a new one, stimulating all four human senses through art: hearing, sight, smell, and taste.

Listen: The music is a blend of Longobardi and classical pieces by Handel, Barber, Bach, and Mussorgsky, performed by singer Meiko Kaji and lead vocalist Thom Yorke from the band Radiohead.The symphoniesThey are all blended together with deliberate intent, the rhythmic sounds subtly changing with the tempo of each picture or frame projected, and they fit together remarkably well.

Look: The entire space is 3000 m².²The 11-meter-tall Lume Centre offers a stunning visual experience, with over 3000 images projected onto the walls, ceiling, columns, and even the floor. All are covered with a soft fabric to allow the images to shine through, providing the best possible viewing experience. These 3000 images represent all of Van Gogh's famous paintings from his 10-year career.

Van Gogh's years in the Netherlands (1880-1885): This was a somber period, almost the complete opposite of the later years of his life. During this time, Van Gogh's preferred colors were earthy tones, especially dark browns. He had very little money, ate very frugally, and suffered from numerous health problems.

Van Gogh's years in Paris, France (March 1886 - February 1888): Inspired by Parisian Impressionism, his paintings featured brighter, more vibrant color palettes. During his two years in the City of Light, Van Gogh completed over 200 paintings.

Van Gogh's time in Arles, France (February 1888 - May 1889): Although his stay in southern France was brief, this was the happiest period of Van Gogh's life. However, it was also during this time that he suffered from hallucinations and paranoia, eventually cutting off almost his entire left ear.

Van Gogh during his treatment in Saint-Rémy (May 1889 - May 1890): This was the time Van Gogh voluntarily entered a mental asylum in an old monastery in Saint-Rémy. His paintings from this period intertwine periods of crisis and self-control.

Auvers-sur-Oise (May - July 1890): In the last two months of his life, his loneliness is clearly felt in his final paintings. He shot himself in the chest with a pistol, and yet still completed the painting Portrait d'Adeline Ravoux.

Following these five stages, the exhibition presents a series of self-portraits by Van Gogh from different periods, reflecting the changes in his psychological state.

Smell: Visitors to Van Gogh Alive can truly smell the scents. The aromas of cypress, cedar, nutmeg, combined with lemon and vetiver, recreate the atmosphere of the orchards and sprawling fields where Van Gogh took up his brush and left behind priceless paintings. These scents and aromas are as varied and complex as the tumultuous and challenging life of Vincent Van Gogh.

Taste: At the exhibition, there's a small, subtly arranged corner featuring dishes specially created for the event. Diners won't see or know what the dishes are beforehand; instead, the chefs will prepare and serve them based on their intuition. The dishes are named after Van Gogh paintings, such as *The Poet's Garden*, *Sunflowers*, *Red Vineyards at Arles*, etc., and are prepared to accurately reflect the spirit of the paintings. This small restaurant also serves a selection of light drinks such as wine and cocktails.

Currently, the exhibitionVan Gogh AliveThe exhibition in Melbourne is open until May 1st, 2022. After that, Grande Experiences will continue this multi-sensory exhibition in Brisbane until December 24th and in Canberra from March 5th to March 27th, 2022, with prices varying depending on the length of stay. Visitors can book tickets online and follow the latest updates on the official website.Van Gogh Alive.

An (reference: Noah Nguyen/Me Tranh)