Absolutely mesmerizing! That’s my summary of the 3D holographic show that my husband and I saw last night, here in Montréal, which brought a well-known era of art history to life. A giant screen took centre stage at the front of the room, while smaller but very tall vertical screens lined the side walls and even parts of the rear of the space for a rather immersive experience – even before the 3D portion of the show.
The event began with an Introduction by Sophie Renoir, the great-granddaughter of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, then we toured Paris during the time of The Impressionists who painted in France. Using a combination of still photos and historic live-reel film, we glimpsed scenes of Paris during the early days of motion-photos – what we now call video clips or reels, without our 3D glasses. We got to enjoy late-19th Century Paris, at the time of The Impressionists.
Delving into some art history, several of the best-known Impressionist painters were then profiled in words and film, and I was happy to see several of the oft-forgotten female artists of this period included Marie Bracquemond, Eva Gonzales, and Berthe Morisot, and other women are so often omitted from art history that it was lovely to see their names and histories up on screen. After an “entre-acte” or intermission that included some lovely “mignardises” or miniature bite-sized French pastries (for which we paid a bit extra!), we donned our 3D glasses for the highlight of the show.
The holographic technologies used in this 3D film created a form of animation, bringing movement to many classic impressionist paintings by Degas, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Seurat, Van Gogh, and others. It’s difficult to describe the feeling of floating along on a boat, as the landscapes of Van Gogh pass along the shore. Or of floating over Monet’s lily pads, being in the rehearsal room with Degas’ dancers:
“Lasting Impressions invites you to rediscover the emotional power of art through a breathtaking new immersive experience.
Witness the spellbinding transformation of the Impressionist masterworks, brought to moving life by a team of artists using cutting edge 3D Motion Sculpting technology.
You’ll bathe in the shimmering light of Van Gogh’s Starry Night and feel the breeze on your skin as you wander among Monet’s swaying Poplars.
With an exclusive introduction by Sophie Renoir, Lasting Impressions is an astonishing travelog through Old Europe, presented on a custom ultra high-definition screen with an entrancing soundtrack to match.
Come alive with Lasting Impressions.” (1)
One of the most touching moments of the show was – fittingly – the choice of music for the final segment. Hearing the lyrics of Don McLean’s classic song “Vincent” (often thought of as Starry, Starry Night), covered by tenor Adam Fisher, while seeing Van Gogh’s paintings brought to life in 3D was truly moving:
“Starry, starry night
~ Don McLean, “Vincent”
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent’s eyes of china blue
Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist’s loving hand
Now, I understand, what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they’ll listen now”
It was actually the first time that I’d noticed the word “pain” in this song: “Weathered faces lined in pain”. Which felt somewhat symbolic for me, given that my motto is “Art Despite Pain“! I began painting and learning to draw just over two years ago in large part because of my rare chronic pain condition, after a mild cognitive impairment stole my career in bioethics. Of course, I’m not comparing my pain to that of Vincent Van Gogh! Only noting that there was a bit of a connection for me with those particular lyrics.
If you have an opportunity to see this show, which is now touring the world, I highly recommend it. You don’t have to take my word for it either; several local art critics and journalists have given it excellent reviews. (2)
References
(1) Princeton Entertainment Group. Lasting Impressions. Website. Accessed 10 Feb 2023:
https://www.lastingimpressionsin3d.com/
(2) Burnett, Richard. Impressionists make lasting impression in Montréal. Tourisme Montréal (Montréal Tourism Office). Webpage. Accessed 10 Feb 2023:
https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/lasting-impressions