“Tonight with the Impressionists” – an immersive, virtual reality exhibition at the Eclipso Centre in Atlanta – combines education, history, vivid graphics, and a wild ride into the minds of artists like Claude Monet, Pierre August-Renoir, Berthe Morisot, and Edgar Degas.
Based on the events surrounding the night of April 15, 1874, the first-ever Impressionist exhibit in Paris at the Musée d’Orsay, the 45-minute experience allows you to “meet” the artists, see their works, and be taken on a tour of the museum, led by your virtual reality guide.
“Our newest expedition allows visitors to experience one of the most pivotal moments in art history,” Antoine Lieutaud, CEO of Eclipso, said. “It’s more than just a glimpse into the past; it’s an invitation to experience the passion, vision, and spirit of the artists who forever changed the art world, all through virtual reality.”
It begins on a busy street in Paris, clogged with horse carriages. A helpful guide walks attendees to and through the museum. Along the journey (yes, you actually walk around the virtual museum with plenty of useful arrows and prompts to move to the next illuminated blue box), visitors are introduced to the artists, provided background information into their processes, and then allowed to eavesdrop on their conversations.
But the tour doesn’t just stick to the Musée d’Orsay. There’s also side trips to Frédéric Bazille’s studio, Monet and Renoir’s Grenouillère, and Monet’s Le Havre, where “Impression, Sunrise” was created.
This VR experience, which took two years of research to create, was the result of a collaboration with Excurio Immersive Expeditions, GEDEON Experiences, and the Musée d’Orsay, based on an original idea by GEDEON Experiences. Other partners included Sylvie Patry, the General Curator of Heritage/Artistic Director, Mennour Gallery, and Anne Robbins, Curator of Paintings at the Musée d’Orsay.
Although a little wordy on the history and politics of the era, the whole experience shows an exacting attention to detail, both in the depiction of the paintings and the artists themselves. Several times during the tour, a featured painting is “blown up,” allowing visitors to walk over and examine the work of art while being educated about the nuances of the art piece.
Does it seem real? In a word, yes. I found myself walking over rickety bridges and narrow paths, trying to not fall into the fake river and saying, “Excuse me,” when the guide or artist “walked” through me.
Pro tip 1: A fun experiment for those who go: walk “into” the back of one of the artists or guides. I will not give it away, but it’s pretty cool.
Pro tip 2: It’s a lot more fun to go with a friend to this experience. Each member in your group has an avatar that is color-coded, and because different groups crisscross the space, it’s good to know the location of a partner by your assigned color.
Pro tip 3: After you are relieved of your VR goggles, hang out for a minute and watch those people who are in the middle of the tour. Some are hanging on to each other for dear life, while others are “touching” the paintings. Yes, you did that too.
In all, visitors will experience a virtual reality journey that’s educational and will have them feeling a little weak in the knees (in a good way) after it’s all over.
“Tonight with the Impressionists” opens Sept. 17 at Eclipso Centre, 550 Somerset Terrace NE in Atlanta, near the Beltline. Tickets are available in advance or at the door.
