Immersive Art: What is and why it’s on the rise
fully immersive, engaging all senses
Immersive art is a rapidly growing art trend that has taken the art world by storm. It provides a unique way to experience art by allowing the viewer to be fully immersed in the artwork, engaging all the senses. From large-scale digital projections to interactive installations, immersive art has become the go-to art experience for many art enthusiasts.
In today’s digest, we will explore what immersive art is, why it's on the rise, and some of the most popular examples of immersive art.
What is Immersive art?
Immersive art is a type of art that engages the viewer in an interactive experience, creating a sense of being fully immersed in the artwork. It can be created using a variety of media, including video, projection, sound, and light. Immersive art often has an interactive element, allowing the viewer to participate in the experience.
Immersive art has been around for centuries, but it has become increasingly popular in recent years. This is due in part to the development of new technologies, such as virtual reality and augmented reality, which allow artists to create more realistic and immersive experiences.
Types of Immersive art
360-degree video
This type of video creates a spherical image that can be viewed from all sides. Viewers can walk around the image, which gives them a sense of being inside the scene.
Projection mapping
This technique involves projecting images onto a three-dimensional surface. This can be used to create interactive experiences, such as allowing viewers to touch the projections or change the images by moving their bodies.
Soundscapes
This type of immersive art uses sound to create a sense of place. Viewers can walk through a soundscape, which can be used to create a variety of experiences, such as walking through a forest or a city.
Light installations
This type of immersive art uses light to create a visual experience. Light installations can be used to create a variety of moods, such as excitement, relaxation, or mystery.
Why it’s on the rise
Immersive art is a growing field, and there are many new and innovative projects being created all the time. This rise can be attributed to a few reasons.
First, the art community is embracing experiential art, which focuses on creating an immersive experience for the viewer. Experiential art allows viewers to interact with the art in a more meaningful way, and it can create a more immersive and engaging experience.
Second, the advent of social media platforms like Instagram has increased the demand for unique and immersive art experiences. Social media users have a constant need to share content that showcases unique life experiences, and immersive art provides the perfect opportunity for them to do so. For example, people often post photos and videos of themselves experiencing immersive art installations, which helps to raise awareness of these art forms and attract more visitors.
Finally, the rise of digital technology has made immersive art more accessible than ever before. With the development of new technologies such as virtual reality and projection mapping, artists have more tools than ever before to create immersive art experiences that are truly unforgettable.
Examples of Immersive Art
There are many examples of immersive art, from large-scale digital projections to interactive installations, here are some of the most popular examples of immersive art installations:
“Infinity Mirror Rooms” by Yayoi Kusama
Infinity rooms by Yayoi Kusama. Yayoi Kusama is one of the pioneers of immersive art, with her Infinity Mirror Rooms being some of the earliest and most well-known examples. The Infinity Mirror Rooms are small, enclosed spaces that are full of mirrors, creating an illusion of infinite space. The rooms are often filled with Kusama's signature polka dots, creating a whimsical and surreal experience for the viewer.
The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit
The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit This is one of the most popular immersive art experiences. Currently on a world tour, the exhibit features large-scale digital projections of Vincent Van Gogh's paintings, special effects and a soundtrack, all creating a truly immersive and unforgettable experience for the viewer.
Dali, The Endless Enigma L'atelier Des Lumieres
Dali, The Endless Enigma L'atelier Des Lumieres Set up in Paris’ first-ever digital art museum, this immersive art exhibit features digital projections of Salvador Dali's artwork, bringing the surrealist landscapes to life all around the viewer.
The Goodnight House
The Goodnight House Built around 14 works created by contemporary artists, this exhibit reimagines the setting of the children's book Goodnight Moon and gives the viewer a surreal and whimsical experience.
Do you seek an immersive art experience? Or do you find it to be “a little too much for the senses”? Immersive art is a growing field, and there are many new and innovative projects being created all the time. Immersive art will continue to rise as technology advances in more ways than we can behold right now.
There are many exhibits and installations available around the world. Wherever you are reading this digest from, I can assure you that there’s possibly an immersive art experience showing in your neighbourhood that you can visit this weekend.
Until next digest,
who’s your favourite immersive African artist?
