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Arts & Communication Immersive curatorial practice

Some critics were not receptive to the integration serves as a catalyst for redefining the museum experience,
of immersive experiences and digital technology in fostering a more dynamic and participatory engagement
exhibitions, perceiving it as a challenge to the established with cultural artifacts. By embracing immersive art
authority of traditional art exhibitions. However, the public exhibitions, museums can challenge the boundaries of
who are willing to pay for such experiences have a positive traditional exhibition formats, thereby enriching the
view of them. Now that major museums have become aware cultural landscape and fostering a deeper appreciation of
of this enthusiastic audience, they are beginning to attempt the arts.
to gain a foothold in the domain of digital exhibitions.
Culturespaces, a private French art organization, operates 3. Zhang Daqian: One of the most suitable
three immersive art centers in France, with each center artists for animation adaptation
reportedly receiving between 650,000 and 1.4 million On May 10, 1899, a baby boy was born in a family on the
visitors annually. While Culturespaces has not disclosed outskirts of Neijiang County, Sichuan Province, China.
its specific revenue figures, it remains confident in the The father named the baby Zhang Zhengquan. In the
vitality and impact of these exhibitions, which attract winter of 1919, when the boy was 20 years old, he became
a considerable number of visitors. For example, the Van a monk in a temple in Songjiang. The abbot gave him the
Gogh Experience in Paris attracts 1.4 million visitors religious name “Daqian,” which means “a great thousand”
annually. As a result, the organization plans to open in Chinese. When he was young, Zhang Daqian learned
more immersive art spaces around the world. It would painting with his mother, who was good at painting folk
be erroneous to assume that Culturespaces is the only paper-cut flowers. In the 1940s, Zhang Daqian facsimiled a
organization exploring the possibilities of immersive art lot of Dunhuang murals and conducted extensive research
experiences. The international art collective TeamLab has on grottoes of famous paintings, especially Shi Tao’s works.
undertaken a global tour, with performances in London, Zhang Daqian had found a distinctive approach in his
Tokyo, São Paulo, and Brazil. In addition to these two composition, techniques, and expression methods to
organizations, Marc Glimcher, president and CEO of Pace create a unique artistic approach. In particular, the vibrant
Gallery, and Mollie Dent-Brocklehurst, former president landscape, colorful inks, and endless variations drew
of Pace Gallery London, have formed a partnership to viewers into an amazing new world for Chinese landscape
establish a business dedicated to the creation of immersive painting. His work even transcended cultural boundaries,
experiential art, known as Superblue. earning the admiration of Picasso. People are willing to
Amanda Kwan, aged 35, was both astonished and collect Zhang Daqian’s works not only because of his
gratified by the Culturespaces exhibition in New York in outstanding artistic achievements but also his unique life
early 2023: “When you visit The Metropolitan Museum of experience and interests. Zhang Daqian’s life experience
Art or experience other art exhibition forms, there’s a lot of was truly legendary. In addition to his artistic creations,
stuff waiting to be seen in front of you, and you’re rushed he also loved food, traveling, opera, and making friends
along the way. This form of immersive curation is much from all walks of life. He fully embodied the spirit of a
more accessible. I feel like I can visit at my own pace, rather life enthusiast. Zhang Daqian loved to travel the world,
than having to see all the collections in the museum.” In exploring famous mountains, rivers, plains, and lakes
an interview conducted in Hong Kong, Leng Lin, the – not only in China but also in South America, Europe,
president of Pace Gallery Asia, attributed the popularity of India, Korea, and Japan, among others. These experiences
immersive exhibitions to the fundamental human desire to allowed him to “search all the strange peaks,” ultimately
experience and interact with the extraordinary. He cited achieving an artistic vision where “mountains and rivers
the public’s reaction to visiting an early Beijing teamLab meet with the gods and traces.”
exhibition: “There was laughter everywhere and wide-eyed Historically, Zhang Daqian’s works have been highly
wonder.” This response is the reason why an increasing sought after by collectors worldwide, especially his
number of museums globally are engaging with digital outstanding works, whose auction prices have repeatedly
technology and art and are prepared to allocate significant hit sky-high. At Sotheby’s Hong Kong Spring Auction 2024,
financial resources to do so. a copy of a figure painted by Zhang Daqian at Dunhuang,
The successful implementation of immersive Vermilion-clad Daishi, came out on top, eventually
exhibitions, as evidenced by the case studies above, selling for HK$77.575 million. Earlier, at Sotheby’s Hong
demonstrates their potential to increase the attractiveness Kong Spring Auction 2022, Zhang Daqian’s Imitation of
and influence of museums in contemporary society. Wang Ximeng’s Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains
Moreover, the incorporation of immersive technologies garnered a lot of attention even before it was unveiled.

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 3 doi: 10.36922/ac.3377