Upon learning about the highly popular Van Gogh Alive exhibition held at the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art, my spouse and I decided to visit with our daughter. Despite it being a weekday afternoon, there was a bustling crowd, and after waiting in line for about 30 minutes, we finally entered the venue.
The Van Gogh Alive exhibition presents a new form of art appreciation that combines synchronized images and sound projections from 40 projectors onto the walls, deviating from the traditional exhibition format of quietly observing artworks.
Instead of static displays, the famous paintings by Van Gogh come to life with videos showing flowers dancing, stars twinkling, and trains running. Van Gogh’s original works are already known for their strength and dynamism, and when transformed into moving images, these characteristics are further emphasized.
The majority of the attendees were from the younger generation, particularly female visitors. The venue was packed, and the lower half of the video screens were often obscured by the shadows of people’s heads, creating an atmosphere where leisurely appreciation was challenging.
It felt more like attending a concert by a popular idol group. I couldn’t help but feel a bit out of place, as if I had accidentally stumbled into the wrong event.
May 18, 2023.