Life And Work Of Frida Kahlo Immersive Experience

The life and work of Frida Kahlo was recently exhibited at The Reel Store in Coventry. The Reel Store is the UK's first permanent digital gallery. Its housed in the old reel store at the former home of Coventry Evening Telegraph newspaper.

The Reel Store says "It breaks up the traditional gallery experience by allowing you to become part of the artwork".

The exhibition tells Frida's story growing up in Mexico, from her family background, horrific accident and marriage to Diego and how this inspired her art work.

Words from her diary are read out with photos, videos and art work projected onto the walls and floor. Fridas art work is bought to life, with paintings made into interactive videos which play around the room.

After the reel played you could visit a small museum room with artifacts, videos and timeline of Fridas life.

Last year I visited the Van Gogh Experience which was another immersive exhibition. Museums and art galleries have always been educational institutions promoting art, history and culture.

Through this new way of exhibiting I think it reaches out to more people that previously may not have visited an art exhibition. The technology allows people to feel part of the experience, it brings the images larger than life and helps tell a story. VR can help transport you to a different place and time in the world, it can bring art work to you that you may not be able to view in reality. Exhibitions usually have writing next to the piece of art but VR can tell the story in a more interactive way making you feel part of the piece.

Interactive exhibitions are more accessible for people who find viewing heights or tables or pieces of art difficult to view.

More and more places are using technology, whether it be QR codes to get more information or the full immersive experience. I'm struggling to think of any cons to the use of technology except I would never want to take away the chances of viewing pieces in reality. Where it be a painting on a wall or a sculpture on a table. So as much as I love the use of VR I think it works great along side exhibitions instead of them. And maybe the more people view interactive exhibitions it may encourage people to view other museums and art.