Discovering Van Gogh

The Words & Image team of Ann and Rob went along to Beyond Van Gogh, the Immersive Experience, at the NEC Birmingham, which is on until 1 September 2024 and is well worth seeing.

I couldn't help thinking that if anyone would appreciate this beautiful exhibition it would be Vincent Van Gogh himself. The 19th century artist – now regarded as one of the most popular Post-Impressionist painters of our time,

struggled throughout his life to acknowledge his own worth and his own genius. Through his many letters to his brother Theo, which are part of the experience, he lets his dreams, his thoughts and his struggles on painting and art be known. And now through this experience a much wider audience can get to know the man behind the paintings.

Although I’m no expert on Van Gogh, it seems to me that his desire was to capture on canvas nature, colour, light and texture, as well as people, portraits and even everyday things. When he couldn’t afford to pay a sitter, he would practice by painting his own self-portrait. He was a painter for just ten years but in that time he painted a lifetime’s work, but sold only one painting.

Reading his letters it seems that his efforts fell short in his own eyes. In desperation and frustration Vincent Van Gogh cut off his own ear.  He then put himself into an asylum, where he continued to paint but finally and tragically, aged just 37 he took his own life.

It was through the efforts of Vincent’s sister-in-law, Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, who inherited Vincent’s paintings after the death of Vincent’s brother Theo that Vincent Van Gogh’s works came to be eagerly sought after. 

While the paintings were worthless at the time, Johanna brought them to the eyes of the art world, bringing Vincent the posthumous appreciation and fame while eluded him in life. 

As most people know, one of his sunflower paintings sold at Christie’s Auctions in 1987 for a record-breaking $39 million.

Now to see his work – hundreds of his paintings lifted from the confines of their canvas and digitalised through modern technology to be beautifully presented in such fluid form, I think, would have pleased Vincent Van Gogh immeasurably.

The Van Gogh Immersive Experience is produced by Paquin Entertainment Group. Developed in partnership with Annerin Theatrical and Normal Studio. And to celebrate the opening of the experience, on Wednesday 31 July Helen Marriott, Marketing Manager at the NEC and Scott Christensen, Creative Development General Manager at Annerin Theatrical welcomed a small audience to a preview of Beyond Van Gogh, the Immersive Experience.

Following a sunflower themed trail into darkened halls we learn of Vincent Van Goch's story. Told through extracts of his letters and quotations, reproduced on large hanging canvasses over Van Gogh paintings while soft classical music plays soothingly in the distance. The soundtrack incidentally, of ‘Beyond Van Gogh the Immersive Experience’ can be found on Spotify.

We are eventually led into a huge hall with wall-to-wall Van Gogh images ebbing and flowing over walls, floors and even over the people themselves. It feels psychedelic almost – a kaleidoscope of Vincent Van Gogh's beautiful paintings - colours textures and patterns slowly moving and blending together, constantly merging into something new.

The mesmerising visions create a feeling of calm and relaxation, and it’s fine to sit on the floor and let his paintings wash over you or stroll around this massive hall as Van Gogh’s world of art opens up to you – an altogether beautiful experience.

For tickets and news of where this will be on show next, go to: https://www.thenec.co.uk/whats-on/beyond-van-gogh/