Most people thinking about touring an art exhibition envision walking through galleries while admiring framed works hanging on the walls. But imagine stepping into one of those paintings and becoming part of it. While this might seem like a scene from a science fiction movie, it is essentially how patrons will experience the works of Vincent van Gogh at an exhibition coming to London this fall.

Photographic images of Vincent van Gogh’s paintings, projected onto the walls and floors of the exhibit space, transport viewers in this immersive exhibition. Admission is timed allowing viewers space to experience the exhibit and interpret it with their senses.

Imagine Van Gogh – The Original Immersive Exhibition In Image Totale – created by artistic directors and pioneers in immersive exhibitions Annabelle Mauger and Julien Baron – has been wowing audiences since its launch by Encore Productions in Paris in 2017.

It features more than 200 paintings by the Dutch artist, enhanced and projected onto the walls and floors of the exhibit space. Accompanied by a soundtrack of some of the world’s great classical music, it transports viewers into the heart of the artist and his works.

The exhibition will have its Ontario premiere on October 22 at 100 Kellogg Lane, London’s newest cultural and entertainment hub. It will also launch the former cereal factory’s converted event spaces.

More than 200 of the master’s paintings are featured in the Imagine Van Gogh display in the 20,000-square-foot exhibit space of 100 Kellogg Lane.

“It’s a huge deal to have the exhibition,” says 100 Kellogg Lane special events coordinator Angela Rivard. “We’re growing our cultural scene here and this is a great way to continue that growth.”

The venue is ideally suited for this exhibition, says D.J. Williams, president at Jetset Event Management. “There are lots of high ceilings and rooms that have the 20,000 square feet we need for the show.”

Williams attended the U.S. premiere of Imagine Van Gogh in Boston and calls the experience breathtaking. “Your senses are all on display at one time. Your mind opens up to so many things. But it’s so individual. No one is having the same experience; everyone will see it in a different way.”

The tour starts with a visit to an ‘education room’ where information is provided about Vincent van Gogh’s life, including his beliefs and his struggles. “You get a better understanding of the exhibition and who he was and what was going on in his world,” Williams says. “A lot of people don’t realize that Vincent van Gogh didn’t sell a painting while he was alive. But he’s kind of become the rock star cult artist of all time.”

Admission to the exhibition is timed, allowing a limited number of people for each time slot. “They limit the number of people who can go in at a time so it’s not overwhelming,” he explains. “They want people to not feel like it’s ‘get in and get out.’ You have lots of space. It’s really a relaxing one-hour experience that you’ll never forget.”

Imagine Van Gogh will run until January 8, 2023; tickets will be priced from $44.07. Williams anticipates that it will be a major drawing card for people throughout the region. “London is very rich in its artistic community,” he says.