I had my first “immersive art” experience of the year the other week. For some unknown reason, I’ve been returned to one of the “it” lists* and received an invitation to attend the opening of the new “Surreal 360” a show of the work of, who else could be surreal, Salvador Dali. Constant Companion and I looked forward to an enjoyable art evening.

*A sampling of pre-Covid “it” lists … test drive a Lamborghini with with Constant Companion – a thrill.

Or test drive a Mini with a girlfriend …

We all returned to Wynwood after the drive and contributed to a mural.

Our community was flooded with Van Gogh, Monet, and Klimpt immersive exhibits in the past few years. I’ve actually been to two other similar displays/experiences – locally at Artechouse during Art Week in 2020 (see 12-21-20 post) and elsewhere, especially at the Seosomum Shrine History Museum in Seoul in my last trip to South Korea with Covid nipping at our heels (see 4-5-21).

When Daughter returned home after living in the great Northwest she took a job as a guide in SuperBlue (https://www.superblue.com/Miami/). I found these installations distinct from the reworkings of the creations of the great masters. Shown were actual artworks, digital and not, including a mirrored labyrinth by English artist and set designer Es Devlin, two digital environments* by international art collective teamLab, and one of the many light-based Ganzfeld works by American James Turrell.

*I saw/experienced a similar digital environment cleverly installed in the (see 3-2-20 post, the museum visits are sandwiched between food commentary). Where did those two lost years go?

The recent visit to “Surreal 360” was not exclusively immersive. My friend Google reveals that are several similar Dali experiential shows circulating around the world into which visitors can get their fill of the work of this unique artist.

Housed in the Ice Palace, a 1920s ice plant now converted into a Film studio, general production facility, and rental space, the show includes more than 200 original artworks, paintings and sculptures, an immersive room, and a virtual reality room. The artwork is part of the Shanahan Collection, the initiative of Santiago Shanahan who started his collection in 2000.

Here is just a sampling of artwork that caught my eye.

After walking through gallery/room after room filled with prints, sculptures, and other artwork by Dali, visitors can try a VR experience to almost enter the artwork of the surrealist master. The end is a 15 minute multisensory show in which visitors are fully immersed in the environments that inspired him and the artwork he created.

I have been lucky enough to see Dali in a Cleveland warehouse a long time ago and also rehoused in its own museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. This was, indeed, a new experience.