28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Immersive ‘Van Gogh Alive' exhibition returns to Hong Kong
Vincent van Gogh is a towering figure in the art world. His post-Impressionist sunflowers and nightscapes, at the time revolutionary for their bold colours and heavy impasto, are today familiar to all. The tumultuous story of his life, however, from struggling with mental health and poverty, to infamously cutting off part of his left ear, puts him in the top tier of tortured-artist stereotypes.
The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh is exhibited on screens at 'Van Gogh Alive'. Photo: Grande Experiences
One of the more thorough exhibitions to dissect the painter's life and art is 'Van Gogh Alive – The Experience', which returns to Hong Kong after six years, having travelled to more than 100 cities worldwide. Combining art with cutting-edge technology, this iteration, at the K11 Atelier King's Road in Quarry Bay, presents about 3,000 paintings through modern projection techniques. Iconic works such as Sunflowers,
The Starry Night and Wheatfield with Crows are blown up across giant screens using the Sensory 4 system, which combines motion graphics, allowing visitors to appreciate every brushstroke in minute detail. It's as close as you'll get to stepping into a painting by the Dutch master.
Vincent van Gogh's paintings come together with auditory and olfactory elements at 'Van Gogh Alive'. Photo: Grande Experiences
Starting March 10, the exhibition goes beyond visual stimulation by also incorporating auditory and olfactory elements. Classical scores from greats such as Schubert and Bach suffuse the exhibition with a sense of grandeur in cinema-quality surround sound, while aromatic elements designed with top, middle and base notes evoke scents related to van Gogh's paintings – whether it's the fragrance of
Sunflowers or the crisp air of The Starry Night.
The immersive area at 'Van Gogh Alive'. Photo: Grande Experiences
'Van Gogh Alive' also encourages participation through interpretive areas. Visitors can step into a life-size replica of Bedroom in Arles, interact with art stations that offer drawing tutorials, and gain insights into van Gogh's life through large-scale graphics and quotes.
Advertisement
Those who fancy themselves as subjects of van Gogh's paintbrush can now bring their dream to life thanks to AI Van Gogh, a new initiative that uses artificial intelligence to generate a personal portrait in the artist's vibrant aesthetic. Bandaged ear optional.
Runs from March 10 to June 8. For tickets, go to
