VR becomes the new reality for artists as museums and galleries battle to draw in visitors
- Galleries and museums around the world have closed their doors to the public
- Exhibitions staged via online platforms are becoming the new normal, and artists are realising the need to become VR savvy
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Covid-19 has forced art museums and galleries in South Korea to close temporarily, but museums have turned to online platforms to reach people craving culture while they are isolated at home.
The Savina Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul saw a surge in digital viewers of its virtual reality (VR) exhibitions after the outbreak. The private museum was one of the first in Korea to offer VR exhibitions in 2012 and it now has an archive of 29 VR exhibitions available online.
“We didn’t want our long prepared exhibitions to be wasted after they closed. We wanted to preserve exhibitions as they were displayed, not just through a printed catalogue,” said Kang Jae-hyun, the museum’s chief curator. “The VR exhibitions are also aimed at those who cannot visit the museum in person.” Kang said the number of visitors to the VR exhibitions has jumped almost 10 times since the Covid-19 outbreak.
