Alive Gallery – An Interactive appreciation of Art

Recently, I made a trip all the way to Downtown East at Pasir Ris to check out Alive Gallery. I was curious to find out about an interactive approach to art appreciation and I enjoyed myself.  One word of advice though, it can get quite text heavy in the exhibition hall. Patience will give you the wealth of knowledge shared in the hall.  This is definitely a destination for people of all ages – A great family affair too!

Originating from South Korea, Alive Gallery artworks cost USD4 million and two years of development.   With the help of cinematic style computer animation, 3D technology, Holographic effects and other interactive tools, visitors can interact with artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo Buonarroti, figures in paintings including the stoic Mona Lisa and the School of Athens.

Showcasing 49 interactive exhibits which are categorized in 5 sections spanning from ancient arts to Renaissance and modern arts, this is the world’s first educational art exhibition using modern technologies which are fused with traditional art forms that will intrigue and enhance your artistic impressions to a higher level.  Do look out for Fact snippets around the exhibition hall.  There are “Do You Know” signs with interesting facts.

The 5 categories in the exhibition are:

1. Ancient Art – Here you’ll get to see exhibits such as Discus Thrower, the Papyrus of Ani, Tutankhamun Hunting, and Palette of King Narmer.
2. The World of Gods – I enjoyed Michelangelo’s explanation of the process of Frescos through a graphical experience.  He explains the details of The Creation.  Also check out Apollo Belvedere, Nike of Samothrace, Venus de Milo and Hermes and the Infant Dionysus as these 4 shares the epitome of classical beauty, masculine beauty with ideal body proportion as well as the golden ratio of the feminine body.
3. The World Viewed through Science – Here you can ask Mona Lisa questions, and she actually replies. Try it out.
4. Pictures are Recording – I learned about the 18th/19th century’s Camera Obscura Technique which uses pinhole apparatus discovered by Aristotle while observing a partial solar eclipse.
5. Thinking Art – You can  pose and be photographed inside Vincent Van Gogh‘s famous painting rendered in 1888 – Cafe Terrace at Night in Arles, Southern France.  Vincent Van Gogh painted this after surrering from long depression and anxiety.  He first started of in Arles for 15 months where he painted over 300 pieces of artwork.

Venue: D’Tent, Downtown East

Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Tue to Thur), 10am – 10pm (Friday), 12pm – 10pm (Saturday), 12pm – 9pm (Sunday)

Admission Fees: $12-16 ($1 ticketing fee applies)

Duration: 2 July to 3 October 2010

Tickets available at all TDC outlets, or Tel 62962929

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