“Day 3 in London -Immersing Ourselves in Art” continues by leaving “Here East’ and the World Press Photographic Exhibition behind and heading back to the bus stop to jump back on the 388 bus towards Stratford City Bus Station. From here it is just a five minute walk to the underground where we pick up the Central Line. Heading towards West Ruislip we get out at Marble Arch and walk around the corner to the “Frameless Immersive Art Experience”.
We purchased our tickets on line and I have to be honest they are more expensive than we would normally pay for an alternative art exhibition but we wanted to try something new and this is certainly it!
Frameless is a unique and modern method of absorbing yourself in art. Classic pictures are brought to life by basically removing them from the confines of a frame and displaying them instead throughout the room in which you stand or sit. Every wall, the floor and sometimes the ceiling is a masterpiece in motion. By adopting this approach you are brought into the actual picture , it envelops you, surrounds you and connects you to the artist in a very unique and awe inspiring process.
This is the largest permanent, digital immersive experience of its kind in the UK. Using state of the art Panasonic projection alongside individually curated scores you are totally immersed into each piece of art.
The introduction from the curators says:
“This is a place where there are no white walls,
Where art seeps into every inch of space,
Surrounding and astounding all inside.
This is a place where art comes alive
Where it is free to run wild
Where it knows no bounds.
This is a place where you can climb inside,
Where you can be immersed in each spectacular scene,
Where you can find your place to wonder.
This is a place where there are no frames,
Where art is a world you can explore,
Where you can get closer to art than you’ve ever been before.”
There are four separate galleries:
“Beyond Reality”.
This is where we began our journey exploring great art works such as:
Edvard Munch “The Scream’, Max Ernst “The Fireside Angel” and Hieronymus Bosch “The Garden of Earthly Delights”.
Taking centre stage these and many more famous pieces from the 16th century right up to the 20th century swirl across the walls around you.
My favourite piece in here was Thomas Lowinsky’s The Dawn of Venus. It filled all four walls, plunging us as visitors into the depths of its ocean whilst immersing my feet on the seabed. Truly amazing!
I’ve not be able to upload my videos onto my post but they will be available from tomorrow on my instagram page
https://www.instagram.com/amidlifeadventure/
I have a couple of photos instead.
Colour in Motion:
This was the second room we entered where great masterpieces such as Monet’s “The Waterlily” are enhanced to the point that you can see every brushstroke up close and personal.
Van Gogh’s “Self Portrait” and “Starry Night over the Rhone” similarly amazed me.
In this room an added aspect comes into play -the idea of the pictures being triggered by the movement of the audience. Walk along the floor and the leaves move with you, it’s like rustling through the Autumn leaves on a woodland floor whilst being inside a magnificent piece of art. Again a video really shows this interaction on instagram.
I did capture a few photos as well:
The World Around Us:
Room three and here the creators have taken paintings from the 1st century BC up to the Impressionist Movement of the late 19th century to bring “life itself” into our view. Imagery such as:
Rembrandt’s “Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee”, “Vesuvius in Eruption” by Joseph Wright of Derby and Canaletto’s “The Grand Canal” where the figures within the painting come to life. Sound is added to the experience so you can hear the oars as they go through the water and the chatter of the people on the canal side. Everything has been created to make you feel as if you living within each painting!
The Art of Abstraction:
The fourth and final room brings the visitor into a floating maze of colour, shape and form with the pioneers of abstract art.
If you have been reading my blog from the beginning you will know I struggle with this type of art.
https://amidlifeadventure.org/2023/03/07/opinion-modern-art/
Using cutting edge technology the pioneers of abstract art are brought to life in this room full of colour and light. Famous pieces of art from artists such as Piet Mondrian, Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee feature amongst the kaleidoscope of floating projections which respond to music so that each painting appears as a living, pulsating piece of art.
My Conclusion:
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan described this exhibition saying “Frameless will be a groundbreaking and hugely popular attraction in the West End demonstrating the constant innovation and creative energy of London.”
It is certainly very different and takes traditional art away from the walls of many an art gallery in order to make it an immersive and living experience thus opening it up to more people. It’s an experience that lends itself to children of all ages and including those with neurodiversity who might find a traditional gallery too enclosing and busy with visitors.
Expensive but worth a visit!
And so Day 3 comes to a close, one final day in London to bring you in my next and final post of this recent adventure.……………………………
A Midlife Adventure 