Imagine Van Gogh was an immersive art exhibition featuring the works of Vincent Van Gogh at the Vancouver Convention Centre from March until October in 2021.
The exhibition was not one that features original works of art by the famous Dutch painter. Instead, it was a modern exposition that showcased over 200 of the artist’s works on giant screens.
If you like art, especially art by Van Gogh, you would have loved this event! And even if you aren’t a huge art fan, you would have likely still been impressed. The exhibition was extended until October 31st.
In this article you’ll find the following information about Imagine Van Gogh:
When and Where | Ticket Prices | What to Expect | Imagine Van Gogh Video | Who Was Vincent Van Gogh? | What Kind of Art? | Tips and Advice | Other Information
Imagine Van Gogh Vancouver 2021
The immersive exhibition Imagine Van Gogh is a unique tour through the captivating works of Vincent Van Gogh. There are over 200 versions of the Dutch master’s art pieces featured at the event. They appear on massive screens of varying shapes and sizes to create an experience unlike any other.
The Imagine Van Gogh event has already taken place in several locations around the world, including in European cities and other parts of Canada. The exhibition was originally scheduled to be in Vancouver in February of 2021, but it got postponed until March due to COVID-19.
The organizers behind the event push the boundaries of traditional paintings. Rather than being restricted by the small, original canvases that Van Gogh used, the immersive exhibition takes advantage of modern technology. Consequently, visitors can explore the artist’s masterpieces in an up-close and visually staggering manner. The immersive form allows small details to be magnified and appreciated like never before.
When and Where
Imagine Van Gogh took place at the Vancouver Convention Centre between March 19th and October 31st in 2021.
The exhibition took place in the Convention Centre’s West Building which is located by Jack Poole Plaza at 1055 Canada Place.
The venue was open every day of the week between 9:00 am and midnight. Last entry each day was one hour before closing (so at 11:00 pm). It took about an hour to see everything. As of July 10th, the opening time each day was 8:30 am.
Ticket Prices
Below were admission prices to the exhibition in 2021. As you’ll see, tickets on weekdays other than Fridays were about $10 cheaper.
Mondays to Thursdays
- Adults (ages 16+) – $39.99
- Children (ages 4 to 15) – $34.99
- Little Kids (ages 3 and under) – Free
- VIP Tickets – $99.99
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
- Adults (ages 16+) – $49.99
- Children (ages 4 to 15) – $44.99
- Little Kids (ages 3 and under) – Free
- VIP Tickets – $99.99
Extra Notes About Tickets and Pricing
- Although children under the age of 4 got in for free, they still needed to reserve a ticket.
- VIP tickets were the same price for all ages. They included a souvenir program, poster and face mask.
- The above prices included an online fee and taxes of about $6 per ticket (or $8.50 for VIP tickets).
- Souvenir face masks cost $22.40 when purchased online. Commemorative programs cost $33.60.
What to Expect at the Exhibition
Due to the pandemic, the event has been held in extra-large venues around the world to accommodate safe social distancing. Guests at recent Imagine Van Gogh events have not been allowed to touch any of the screens or canvases. Venue capacities have been strictly limited as well.
The famous masterpieces by Van Gogh featured at the Vancouver event include The Starry Night, The Yellow House, Sunflowers, and many more. (To learn about these and five other paintings, see our article about Van Gogh’s Art at Imagine Van Gogh.)
Because of COVID-19, visitors had to wear face masks at the exhibition and use hand sanitizer at the entrance. Guests also had to keep two metres away from other people.
360-Degree Photo
In case you hadn’t noticed, the above photo can be viewed in 360 degrees (assuming that the device you are looking at it on is compatible with 360-degree technology).
To give you a 360-degree idea of what the gallery at Imagine Van Gogh is like, swipe the above photo to the side to see all around the room. You can even look up and down if you want. For best results, click the (-) icon to zoom out so you can see even more of the area.
Imagine Van Gogh Video
To give you an even better idea of what you could expect, check out the following video. It’s from the Vancouver show in 2021. As you can see, the hall where the art is displayed is massive. Because of the wide open space it’s not at all crowded despite the fact that an estimated 75 or so people are in the room.
Who Was Vincent Van Gogh?
Vincent van Gogh was a post-impressionist Dutch painter who lived from 1853 until 1890. He was, and still is, one of the most well-known painters of all time.
Van Gogh was born in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands. He became a preacher and started expressing emotions through painting. After living in the Netherlands for over 30 years he moved to Paris to live with his brother. In France the artist developed and refined his now famous circular brushstroke style.
After moving in with a different artist, a dispute resulted in Van Gogh cutting off his own ear. He went to an asylum in Provence, where he continued to paint, before eventually going back to Paris to live once again with his brother.
Unfortunately, Van Gogh’s mental health further deteriorated over time until, tragically, he shot himself in the chest and passed away a couple of days later. Over the course of his life the artist created over two thousand works of art that the world still admires to this day.
360-Degree Images of Vincent Van Gogh
The following photo shows another 360-degree view of a scene inside the Imagine Van Gogh exhibition. On the walls of the Vancouver Convention Centre are projected images taken from self-portraits of the famous Dutch artist.
Similar to the other 360-degree photo earlier in this article, assuming your phone or computer device is technologically compatible, if you swipe the photo from side to side with your finger or mouse (depending on the device you are using), you should be able to see all around the scene in the photo. Scroll left, right, up and down to see what the place looks like as if you are really there!
For best results, click the (-) icon to zoom out so you can see even more of the surrounding area in the photo. On desktop devices (but not on most phones), there is also a box-shaped icon near the top right corner of the photo. If you click it you can explore the photo in full screen.
What Kind of Art is Van Gogh’s Art?
Vincent Van Gogh was a Post-Impressionist artist. The style is known for its symbolism, abstract content, vivid colours and the thickness of its paint. Forms are often distorted. Colours appear unrealistic and almost arbitrary. Don’t expect the art to look real or like a photograph.
Impressionism originated in France in the eighteenth century. Famous Impressionist painters include Degas, Manet, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir and Sisley. Post-Impressionism, meanwhile, was an art movement that developed in France between the late 1800s and the beginning of the 20th century. Famous Post-Impressionist painters include Cézanne, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Seurat.
Van Gogh was especially known for his vibrant use of colour and bold, heavy brush strokes. Some of his pieces were influenced by his interest in Japanese prints. His paintings are very popular, although not everyone’s taste and style. Most people though love his art.
Tips and Advice
Below are some tips and suggestions to help you make the most out of your Van Gogh experience.
Things to Do and Know in Advance
TIP 1: Buy your tickets well in advance. With not much else happening in Vancouver because of COVID-19, tickets are selling fast.
TIP 2: Give yourself ample time to get to the Convention Centre. You’re supposed to arrive 15 minutes before the time on your ticket. Traffic can be a challenge sometimes, as can finding a place to park. Except for during rush hour, neither is usually too difficult.
TIP 3: Because of COVID-19, don’t forget to wear a mask in the venue and to physically distance from other people. Also, only go to the show with people from within your “bubble”.
TIP 4: The exhibits involve bright lights. They’ll look beautiful for most people but might not be good for those susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy. The lights don’t really flash though and are never overly intense (at least not for the average person).
TIP 5: There are no in-and-out privileges. Once you exit the exhibition, you can’t go back inside. For this reason, use the restrooms before going in. There are no washrooms in the exhibit areas.
TIP 6: Read a bit about Van Gogh’s art before you go. At the exhibition you’ll see images of his work and learn about his life, but not so much the names or information about specific paintings.
Other Useful Information
TIP 7: If you’re coming from out of town, or perhaps just want a staycation, consider making a holiday out of the event and stay in a downtown hotel for the night (unless government restrictions don’t allow you to do so). If you do plan to stay overnight, be sure to check out StayVancouverHotels.com. If you book your stay through the website you’ll get a competitive rate, plus a bonus perk (like a free gift card) for making your reservation through them.
TIP 8: To learn more about the exhibition see our Review of Imagine Van Gogh in Vancouver article. Also, before going, read up a bit about the Dutch master’s art. You’ll get more out of the experience if you can recognize some of the pieces.
Looking for authentic West Coast art? To learn about Marcela Strasdas and her paintings visit the website marcelastrasdas.com.
Other Information
To learn more about the event see the Imagine Van Gogh website.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Review of Imagine Van Gogh in Vancouver
- Imagine Picasso
- Vancouver’s August, September and October Calendars
- Festivals & Events in Vancouver
- Shows & Entertainment Calendar
- Vancouver Art Gallery
- North Vancouver’s Polygon Gallery
- History and Culture