Considers multi sensory
Visiting the Van Gogh Exhibition was incredibly emotive and inspiring. We toured the exhibition looking at previous artworks in a way never seen before through a multi sensory experience. When using multi sensory experiences it really does result in something for everybody from all walks or life.
Chronological order
Firstly, we were met with very descriptive story boards which detailed different periods of his life. The story boards were a mixture snipets of his famous paintings and text. Detailing his life and why he began painting in the different forms. It was incredibly interesting to get a detailed chronological insight into his life and why he painted what he did when he did, up until his sad death.
How text can be so emotive
Upon entering the exhibition you were welcomed by a mixture of tall square and rectangular screens, all different heights and widths, in complete darkness, only lit by the projections themselves. To our delight, happy emotive music began to play. Scents were being diffused. Famous, loose sketches, dairy entries were all being projected, at different times, zooming in on certain angels.
What was particularly interesting was the way in which he wrote. Hundreds of diary entries, all talking about where he was in his life, how he felt, why he did what he did, why he painted what he was painting. Telling the story of his life, in his own words, which we read upon arrival in the descriptive story boards. All of this created a fantastic sensory experience.
Inspired by the natural word
He considered nature throughout his work, often painting gardens, fields, flowers, considering all of the different seasons. Having an appreciation for the natural world and beauty. The study of botany and the natural world is something that everybody can take inspiration from. Dried flowers which are often a memory of what was before. The bloom of a spring flower signifying hope for what’s to come. He painted in colour, which nobody had seen before, taking ownership of a sunflower. Such a famous, iconic flower, he managed to do that, symbolising a new life in colour.
Conclusion
Which later lead me to think about styles, who we are, what we will be known for, what we want to leave behind. How can we bring all of these emotive sensory experiences into our design work? Well you’ll have to wait and see to find out!
I won’t continue to reveal the rest of the exhibition, you just need to go and see it for yourself. Would absolutely recommend.
You can’t be at the pole and the equator at the same time. You must choose your own line, as I hope to do, and it will probably be colour.
Van Gogh
