One of the of the most wildly loved events to touch down in Sydney in the last two years, Van Gogh Alive enraptured thousands of people with its immersive journey through the artist's life and revered artworks. Now it's back for the summer of 2022-2023 on an even grander scale, offering new rooms and experiences that take visitors on a multi-sensory experience through Van Gogh’s world like never before.
Let yourself to be swept up in the soaring beauty of works like ‘Wheatfield with Crows’, ‘Vase with Twelve Sunflowers’ and ‘Starry Night over the Rhone’, all digitally projected at unimaginable scales – and supported by a symphony of light, colour, sound and fragrance. We’ve rounded up everything you need to know.
Time Out's top tips for visiting Van Gogh Alive
How is this different from last time?
The first time Van Gogh Alive was in Sydney, it was the fresh-out-of-lockdown version. This time the custom-built venue showcases the audio-visual experience on a grander scale, and there’s extra “rooms” (see below). There’s also the lovely themed bar and café space, and add-on experiences like a High Tea package and a Paint Like Vincent sip ’n’ paint sesh.
What are the extra rooms like?
The return season features four additional 'immersive spaces', which are highly geared for selfies. You walk inside a recreation of Van Gogh’s bedroom (which looks a lot like the one at Holey Moley); the infinity Sunflower Room, where you can stand in a never-ending field of sunflowers (insider goss: the event hires 'flower fluffers' to fix up the sunflowers after a day of people leaning all over them); and the Starry Night Room, a space filled with hanging tendrils of fairy lights that aims to capture the essence of ‘Starry Night’ (confession: this one looks more impressive on Instagram than IRL). There’s also Van Gogh’s Café Terrace at Night, where you can sit and enjoy a glass of Champagne or take a coffee break.
So, is it an art exhibition?
No. Like it says on the tin, it’s an “immersive experience”. It involves a meticulously assembled multi-screen audiovisual presentation that takes you through Van Gogh’s art practice, drawing on diaries and letters, with bonus 'fragrances'. You won’t see any of Vincent’s actual paintings IRL, but this is the closest you can get to seeing them all in one room. The creator describes it like a kind of gateway drug to art, which he hopes will encourage people to go on to explore Sydney’s wonderful museums and galleries.
When's the best times to visit?
This is an all-ages experience. The mums and bubs crowd usually mills through earlier in the day, with families tapering off towards the afternoon, so it's mostly adults during the evenings. If you’d rather avoid strollers and crying kids, sunset onwards is your best bet.
How to find Van Gogh Alive:
The Grand Pavilion is a pop-up construction in the Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park. You’ll find it in the Showring (the big grassy oval) just past the Market Canopy and the rows of restaurants opposite the Hoyts Cinema.
How to get to Van Gogh Alive:
Catch a light rail service to Moore Park on the L2 Randwick Line or L3 Kingsford Line to get within a short walking distance of EQ. There are also a number of regular buses that stop along Anzac Parade, Oxford Street and other nearby roads within a short walk of EQ. If you’re driving, the EQ Carpark starts at $10 for 2-3 hours. If you arrive after 6pm, the evening flat rate is only $7.
What else is there to do in Moore Park?
Look, it’s in a weird pop-up area, but at least there’s plenty to eat and drink, and the new lightrail makes it so much more accessible! Our hot tip is to line up your visit with Cambridge Markets EQ – with hot eats, fresh produce, flowers and cute stalls to boot right next to the Grand Pavilion every Wednesday and Saturday. The Entertainment Quarter also has lots of summer events livening up the precinct with live music and whatnot; Hoyts Cinema EQ is slinging all the latest blockbusters for more screen time with your screen time; and if you’re already heading to a concert at Hordern Pavilion, you might as well get some Van Gogh action while you’re out that way.
Van Gogh Alive is created and produced by Grande Experiences, presented by Lexus and co-produced by Andrew Kay AM in association with BBC and Fane.
The experience has been extended due to popular demand, is now open in Sydney and running through February. Tickets are on sale now at vangoghalive.com.au, starting at $39 for adults, $29 for kids and $35 for concessions with family and group books also available.
