This new Manhattan exhibit promises to digitally drown you in the work of a great Viennese artist.
A new experiential art space has opened in lower Manhattan, and its inaugural exhibition is dedicated to immersing viewers in Gustav Klimt’s “golden, sensuous” paintings.
Hall des Lumières is located in the former teller hall and vault level of the landmarked 49 Chambers St., formerly known as the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank. The Hall, opened Sept. 14, represents the French private museum and cultural heritage site manager Culturespace’s first North American property. The company is the creator and producer of numerous global digital art centers, including the popular Atelier des Lumières, located in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, which was home to a buzzy van Gogh installation in 2019.
Unlike many of the experiential pop-ups that New York has had in recent years, this one declares itself a permanent proprietor of the immersive arts dedicated to showcasing “entirely new, custom-curated exhibitions every ten to twelve months based on the work of different world-renowned artists,” according to a press release.
“Gustav Klimt: Gold In Motion” features 30-foot-high images of the late legend mapped across the H-shaped skyscraper’s historic architecture, from its stained glass skylights to its coved ceilings and marble walls. An accompanying musical soundtrack was also arranged specifically for the show.
Audiences will also be invited to experience other shorter digital creations in the space and show, including one work inspired by Klimt and two more abstract pieces.
“Guests will also be able to watch a presentation about the history and design of the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank, one of the first skyscrapers built in the Beaux-Arts style, as well as view panels displaying images of Klimt’s paintings shown at actual scale, with information about the museums across the globe where these works can be seen,” the release notes.
Tickets start at $30 for adults and $15 for children aged 5-16 (children under 5 get in for free). Special prices are available for seniors and military members, and the show is set to occupy the space through the end of the year.