'Immersive Van Gogh' takes viewers on circuitous journey through the life of famed painter

Driving from the Huber Heights area in Dayton, Rebecca and Jude Konecki made their way to the Lighthouse ArtSpace Monday morning.

At the center of their day's agenda: the brilliant works of famed Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, which were projected onto 500,000 cubic feet of wall and floor surface as part of the "Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit Columbus."

The popular touring exhibit displays the storied life and artistry of the Post-Impressionist painter through a series of atmospheric projections of "The Starry Night,” “Sunflowers,” “The Bedroom" and other works.

Konecki, 38, said she was already relatively familiar with van Gogh's work. But the exhibit's elements were beyond her own expectations, which left her further engulfed in the life of the Dutch artist, she said.

"I like how you were able to follow the mood of the different periods of his life and the stark contrast between the early years, and when the yellow just bursts out. It was really powerful being immersed."

Her son Jude Konecki, 10, said the hourlong experience was an engaging voyage through the life of van Gogh, one that was even more immersive than advertised.

"I liked how it seemed like you were actually in it," he said.

Created by Massimiliano Siccardi, the exhibit began in Toronto and has been presented in many cities, including San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Denver.

Upcoming exhibits will open in Nashville, Tennessee; Orlando; Detroit and others across the country. As of Tuesday afternoon, over 300 million tickets have been sold.

Between the vibrant paintings, glimmering visuals and expressive music, Brian Juttner, 22, said the elements magnified an otherwise simplistic premise.

The experience was enhanced by the creators' detailed projections and focus on captivating movements, he said, as more than 60,000 video frames and 400 images flowed across the venue's surfaces.

"I wasn't expecting the edits," the Lewis Center resident said. "I thought it would just be painting and it would slide away. The edits really brought it to life."

For Elaina Didier, 22, the glimmering of "The Starry Night" and van Gogh's other work evoked a sense of nostalgia around the holiday season.

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"For some reason, I kept thinking of Christmas," the Fort Wayne, Indiana, native said. "I thought it was really cool."

Drawn in by the captivating images and conceptual flow of the showcase, attendee and Columbus native Loren Bucek, 65, said more events like these need to take shape, especially those revolving around contemporary artists.

"It was absolutely brilliant," she said. "I would love to see us do more here in Columbus at this level and caliber. Excellent work."

ehopkins@dispatch.com

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At a glance

“Immersive Van Gogh” will run through Jan. 2, at Lighthouse ArtSpace, 940 Polaris Parkway.

Timed tickets will be sold and pandemic safety precautions will be in accordance with City of Columbus guidelines. Ticket prices start at $39.99. Go to www.columbusvangogh.com.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 'Immersive Van Gogh' exhibit in Columbus a stunning visual experience