Vincent Van Gogh event on ‘scale never before seen in Scotland’ comes to Glasgow

A highly anticipated immersive event that celebrates Vincent van Gogh’s life and works on “a scale never before seen in Scotland” has arrived in Glasgow.

Set to run from today, Thursday, July 11, until Monday, August 26, Beyond Van Gogh is welcoming art lovers from across the country to the city’s SEC to enjoy a ‘dream-like’ immersive journey that will bring some of the world’s most famous artworks, created by the Dutch master himself, to life.

Though similar to an exhibition that was staged in the capital a few years ago by another company, organisers Annerin Productions and Paquin Entertainment Group are promising a much grander scale with this Glasgow event. The current production has already mesmerised more than five million people across the United States, Canada and South America.

Thousands of tickets for the show at the SEC have already been snapped up, with the attraction’s initial run extended by three weeks due to “phenomenal demand”. It is easy to see why people are getting excited, as this amazing event gets ready to transport people to a world filled with vivid colours and Van Gogh’s famous brush strokes.

The exhibition skillfully shows off more than 300 of his masterpieces, allowing fans and newcomers alike to experience his creations in a magical new way.

Combining cutting-edge technology and a specially curated musical soundtrack, the event has been designed to help people explore art in a new modern way that enhances the impact of Van Gogh’s original artworks.

Described as “mind-blowing” and “breathtaking” by visitors when it recently launched in Liverpool, where it attracted thousands of people over the opening weekend alone, the Daily Record was treated to a preview of what fans can expect last night at a special event ahead of the Glasgow launch.

Beginning in the Introduction Hall, visitors move through a space filled with golden frames and displays that sees them connect with Vincent Van Gogh through his own words and correspondence via the personal letters he wrote to his brother Theo, who was also his greatest supporter.

There’s a stillness here that adds to the poignance of this connection, from a genius who often seemed to isolate himself from the world.

By the time you reach the Immersive Room, where Van Gogh’s paintings are “freed from their frames” to completely envelope the space, the experience reaches almost an emotional level, as you begin to realise not only the scale of the room but also the volume of incredible artworks the man created during his lifetime.

Every inch of the space is filled with colour as the paintings begin to swirl and run across the floor and walls, and the words “breathtaking” really don’t do it justice and the artworks fully envelope the space.

As the room comes alive, the effect really does begin to become profound as each person in the room is stunned into silence, as the space sways and moves to the music.

You really can feel his brush strokes and the movement they create as you navigate what was already quite an emotional experience.

Designed to awaken each person’s imagination in “a playful and dreamlike way”, the feeling of joy and escape Vincent must have felt when creating each masterpiece begins to permeate the room.

Water moves, wheat fields sway in the wind and the nighttime scene of the Café Terrace comes alive, as his most famous artworks like Sunflowers and the Starry Night shift and swirl into other lesser known but no less incredible pieces exploring everything from portrait to stunning landscapes.

As it finishes, you really do realise why so few artists could do what he could do and why he is considered one of the greatest painters to ever live before he met his tragic end at just 37-years-old, in the summer of 1890.

If you weren’t a fan of the genius before you went, then you certainly will be by the time you step back into the world of reality as you exit the SEC into Glasgow’s own starry night.

Tickets are still available for Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience from the official website.

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