Last Updated on December 28, 2022
Dalí Cybernetics: The Immersive Experience arrives in London this winter
Immersive art exhibitions are all the rage these days in London and Dalí Cybernetics: The Immersive Experience arrives just in time to brighten up the winter months. Dalí was fascinated by technology and modern life from a young age and his library houses hundreds of books on physics, quantum mechanics, biology, optics and mathematics. For Dali, creativity is basically fostered by scientific knowledge. Like Schrodinger, Dali provided a pictorial representation of what we cannot see. We think he would approve of this experience, bringing his art into the 21st century.
Credit: Matthew Walder
We were invited to see the experience at Shoreditch, which is located at The Boiler House on Brick Lane. Exhibition Hub, an entertainment producer, and Fever, a leading entertainment discovery platform invite visitors to step into Dalí’s poetic and dreamlike universe through large format projections, interactive installations, holograms, virtual reality and artificial intelligence.
The exhibition begins with various posters detailing the life of Salvador Dalí, his artistic interests and the scientific events that inspired them. It’s like a mini introduction to Dalí and his work that serves as a great introduction to immersive digital projection to come. There is also an interactive room featuring the installation The Cybernetic Princess. The Cybernetic Princess (1974) is a reproduction of the shroud of Princess Dou Wan (Han Dynasty, 206 BC – 220 AD), guarded by the famous terracotta army which was discovered at the Ling-Tuong archaeological site in 1968. Her burial ensemble has 2156 small jade plaques sewn with gold thread to ensure longevity after his death. Obsessed with immortality, Dali mummified himself with printed circuit boards. If jade opens access to the “outside”, the electrical circuit symbolizes the future.
Credit: Matthew Walder
The main immersive exhibit is a large room filled with 35-minute sequences of floor-to-ceiling moving projections to accompany the soundtrack. It features famous Dalí works such as The Persistence of Memory, Atomic Leda and Gala Placidia. There were white beach chairs scattered around the room to relax on along with some bean bags. Projections are divided into various themes and presented in various styles: Nuclear physics, quantum physics, DNA, artificial intelligence, emotional landscapes, modern humanists, third dimensions, anaglyphs, fourth dimensions, and sacred geometry.
The music and projection of the artificial intelligence section seem quite ominous. In contrast, the third dimension is like a modern art gallery with various stills zoomed in or rotated on the floor. The famous anaglyph section – put on your 3D glasses and several projections will appear. My own favorite, the sacred geometry section, has music giving it the impression of an expensive bar or restaurant while the stills are zoomed in. Looping sequence, you can join the experience at any time.
The first immersive VR experience in the Dalinian metaverse is included with every ticket. It’s a 12-minute event where you’re transported aboard and interacted in an ever-expanding digital space. The dream ship sails through Dali’s artistic world on an impossible journey that immerses guests in unique experiences. The world of the Dalinian is enchanting – realistic enough to almost make you believe it, even though you know those creatures couldn’t possibly exist in real life. I freaked out a bit when it started to rain, anticipating a split-second immersion and as some bugs buzzing around I instinctively tapped the buzzing in my ear. There’s no extra charge or VIP category for this experience, so there might be long queues during peak hours, but it’s definitely worth the wait.
Before heading out, there is also a gift shop where you can buy various items inspired by Dali’s art.
If you’re looking to escape the dreary London winter and head into the dreamlike universe of Dali, I highly recommend checking out this immersive experience.
Dalí Cybernetics: Immersive Experience
Boiler House
152 Brick Path
E1 6RU
Running until February 2023
Tickets start at £19.90 for adults and £10.90 for children.
About 90 minutes
