A $15-Million Multi-Sensory Digital Art Gallery Is Opening in Melbourne

The Lume will showcase the works of artists like Van Gogh and Da Vinci using moving images, music and smells.
Libby Curran
November 04, 2019

If you prefer an art experience that extends beyond looking at works on a wall, prepare to be impressed by Melbourne's new immersive digital art gallery.

Set to open in late 2020, The Lume will take the form of a $15-million 2000-square-metre gallery, decked out with 150 state-of-the-art projectors. Projections of some of the world's most celebrated works will be splashed across various surfaces, backed by powerful musical soundtracks and complemented by aromas.

The project is the brainchild of Melbourne-based Grande Exhibitions, which, for the past 14 years, has hosted immersive exhibitions and gallery experiences in over 130 cities across the world. The company also owns and operates Rome's Museo Leonardo da Vinci.

Known for celebrating art world greats like Vincent van Gogh and da Vinci through modern, multi-sensory technology, Grande Exhibitions will use a similar formula at The Lume. Instead of showcasing original works, the gallery will rely on a curation of music and moving image to create a tapestry of instantly recognisable artworks.

At night, The Lume will transform into an events space, thanks to a collaboration with catering company Food & Desire. So, next Christmas party you could be sipping bubbles while looking at (and smelling) a Van Gogh.

To get more of an idea of what to expect from The Lume when it opens later this year, check out this teaser:

The Lume will open in an unconfirmed Melbourne location in late 2020. We'll let you know when more details are announced.

You can check out some of Grande Exhibitions' other gallery experiences over here.

Updated March 2020

Published on November 04, 2019 by Libby Curran
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