“Claude Monet: The Immersive Experience” opened in DC, among other major cities across the globe, on February 16 and will run until early October. Located on 524 Rhode Island Ave NE in Washington DC, this unconventional art exhibit walks you through a lifetime of artwork from the extraordinary Claude Monet. Tickets are bought online at monetexpo.com/washington/ prior to your visit.
When you first enter the building you will visit a reception desk and they will point you to the first room of the experience. Here there is lots of background information on Monet’s life and art techniques. It talks about his early life in Normandy which fostered his love for the sea that later influenced his art. You will also learn about his life through World War 2, how his art was rejected leading to depressive episodes, and more.
At your leisure, you walk into a rendition of his home office. It was very interesting to walk through this because it was lifelike and every detail had a story behind it. After the office the entrance to the immersive experience is a physical rendition of the Japanese footbridge in his painting. This is charming and makes the transition into the main immersive experience a huge success.
The main attraction is when you walk into the next room. It is a huge space with projections of Monet’s paintings on all four walls. Though it’s not just his paintings. While you are in this room it is as if you are in his paintings. It immerses you in the poppy field near his home. I liked how close it mirrored his art techniques because it wasn’t realistic. It was as if you were the real world, just in his version. It also transitions to a scene of the beach at Sainte-Adresse but my favorite nature scene, and perhaps favorite overall, was of the water lilies. I really enjoy this set of paintings because of how peaceful they are so I appreciated how tranquil the room felt.
Soon the theme shifted to his work of the city. The rooms overall color changed from cool, vibrant tones to the dusty, brownish color of the city. It felt as if you were there when the train pulled into the station and on a boat looking at the Waterloo bridge he painted. The whole room was lovely and at ease. I enjoyed it thoroughly and believe anyone else that enjoys art will too.
The next part of the experience was a VR tour of his paintings. It cost an extra five dollars but was just as fantastic as the room. I will warn you that it is not for people with a weak stomach. Sometimes it would “woosh” you to a different scene and I found it a bit repetitive as they are the same paintings as in the room but it was a good experience.
The last part of the experience was a coloring station. It had crayons and outlines of some of his famous paintings. It was a fun way to interact.
Overall, the whole experience was very delightful. It is about 90 minutes long but a short walk to a Metro station and in a nice area. I recommend making a day out of it but definitely make a visit. This exhibit is great for couples, families, or anyone looking for a relaxing outing.