The Rise of Virtual Exhibitions
A 3D Interactive Model of the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles. Google Arts and Culture.
Since the concept of art exhibitions first arose in the 17th and 18th centuries, they have continued to serve as a means for artists, historians, and curators to publicly share their work through meaningful narratives. Bringing communities and cultures together as well as providing educational and entertainment opportunities, exhibitions immerse viewers into a more intimate observation and connection with art. Although still maintaining the same principle motives, art exhibitions have continued to evolve alongside societal changes and increasing technological advancements. While traditionally held in physical settings such as museums and galleries, the recent emergence of virtual art exhibitions transforms the way we interact with and experience art.
In the 2000s and 2010s, software, technology, and virtual reality developments allowed museums and galleries to publish their collections and exhibitions online in great detail as well as create immersive 3D tours of gallery rooms. Now, several museums have detailed virtual tours of some of their exhibitions and spaces, allowing anyone access to their collections and shows at any time.
Check out some virtual tours of museums at the Louvre, Smithsonian, The Vatican, and on Google Arts and Culture.
In 2020, the number two Google search under “virtual” was for “virtual museum tours”
The COVID 19 pandemic marked a major milestone in success and adoption of virtual art exhibitions as museums and galleries had to decide how to maintain the business and the art scene without access to physical spaces. The art world quickly adapted, shifting into the online space and creating an upsurge of virtual art exhibitions.
In 2020, the number two Google search under “virtual” was for “virtual museum tours,” demonstrating their growing popularity and demand.
Although virtual exhibits existed previously, this new wave of online content completely altered the trajectory of the value of virtual events and exhibitions and demonstrated their various benefits. Suddenly, it became more evident how necessary art and culture is to the human spirit, regardless of whether it lives online or in a physical form. This virtual shift also highlighted questions surrounding the status-quo on how we view and collect art, calling into question the need to be physically present to enjoy, or even purchase, a work.
Today, many museums and galleries offer virtual opportunities, either by hosting a virtual exhibition that compliments their in-person displays or by creating special exhibitions that exist exclusively online. Virtual exhibitions offer a huge advantage to accessibility, allowing anyone with internet from anywhere and at any time to view these exhibitions. They also allow you to go at your own pace: no more worrying about long lines, getting a good view, or spending too much time at one work. You can zoom in to examine works in detail and sometimes from multiple angles. Catalogs and text are also often included, providing easy access to background information, historical and art context, and art analysis. Other contextual information such as videos and behind the scenes looks are also often available online. If they are permanent additions to the website, you can also go back and reexamine the exhibitions or certain works as often as you would like. Virtual exhibitions exclusively online are also more cost effective for organizers, allowing them to pull together art from around the world without a need for a physical space to house them, fees to transport and care for the work, or worry about availability of works.
Check out some of these online exhibitions:
National Museum of Women in the Arts: The Book as Art: Unbound Books
MFABoston: Writing the Future, Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Generation
Google Arts and Culture is another platform that has embraced the virtual shift. Collaborating with over 2,000 museums and galleries from around the world, Google digitizes collections and displays in depth examinations and exhibits of works and virtual tours of art, landmarks/monuments, museums, and more. They also offer opportunities to engage with art beyond observation and analysis, including art inspired games, art collections based on color or other topics, and a chance to find your art doppelganger. Google’s innovative use of technology allows people to experience culture and art in a more creative and fun environment, proving that anyone from any background can appreciate and connect with art.
The sort by color tool on Google Arts and Culture.
While virtual exhibitions have played a huge role in creating a more accessible art world and providing new avenues for interacting with art, there are some limitations that only in-person exhibits offer. Although digital pictures can offer a more intimate interaction to art, in-person experiences offer a different intimacy: one that can only be felt when in the physical presence of a work. The space of the exhibition itself, with its walls, lighting, and structure as well as the interaction with and alongside other viewers produce a unique atmosphere that can help attendees feel more connected to the art. The curated flow of the exhibition at an in-person gallery or museum also offers a more organized and guided experience through works that may be lacking in a virtual exhibition.
Despite their drawbacks, virtual exhibitions have proven largely successful and offer advantages in-person exhibitions cannot. Although the popularity of online exhibitions has seemed to level-off and people have returned to attending in-person exhibitions and events, many museums and galleries still offer a form of virtual access. With an ever changing technological scene, it is likely more venues and art organizations will continue to embrace technology both within their physical and online spaces to curate a more accessible and engaging experience for viewers.
Ultimately, the choice between virtual and in-person exhibitions invites us to reflect on what we truly seek from art: the convenience and accessibility of the digital world, or the irreplaceable connection and shared experience found in a physical space.
A Virtual Tour of a Gallery in The Louvre
Sources:
Caplead. “Virtual Exhibitions: A Growing Trend in the Industry.” Medium, Medium, 17 July 2023, medium.com/@thecaplead/virtual-exhibitions-a-growing-trend-in-the-industry-f96c8c65a426.
Rowe, Niamh. “Will the Increase of Online Exhibitions Kill the Physical Gallery?” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 14 Oct. 2021, www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/oct/14/online-exhibitions-art-galleries.
