The “Van Gogh: In the Footsteps of Light” exhibition at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s (İBB) Digital Experience Center has attracted 55,000 visitors in its first month since opening on August 23.
The exhibition combines art, technology, and immersive design to present a multidimensional exploration of the Dutch painter’s works.
Developed by İBB to expand cultural access through digital innovation, the Digital Experience Center features four themed rooms where visitors can engage with different forms of interactive art. The exhibition is open year-round and marks one of Istanbul’s most popular new attractions blending creativity and technology.
Immersive Journey Through Van Gogh’s Art
The exhibition takes visitors on a chronological and sensory journey through Vincent van Gogh’s artistic evolution. In the “Digital Room,” the artist’s life and major works are displayed in order, allowing guests to trace his creative transformation. The “Virtual Reality Room” enhances this experience by placing visitors inside Van Gogh’s landscapes, enabling interactive exploration of his art in a simulated environment.
The “Immersive Experience Room” surrounds audiences with 360-degree projections of Van Gogh’s paintings, creating the illusion of stepping directly into the artwork. Complementing these spaces, the “Augmented Reality Room” utilizes artificial intelligence to generate original pieces inspired by Van Gogh’s style, offering visitors a glimpse into how modern algorithms reinterpret the artist’s techniques.
Interactive Features for All Ages
The exhibition also includes spaces explicitly designed for children. A digital corridor and interactive areas encourage young visitors to engage with art through coloring and projection activities. These features aim to make art appreciation accessible and enjoyable for families, supporting the municipality’s goal of promoting creativity through technology.
According to creative producer Özde Karadağ, the exhibition presents a rare opportunity to host an internationally recognized digital art production in Turkey. “This kind of project requires a long production period. We need months to present the content fully. However, since our time here was limited, we brought in a pre-prepared work,” said Özde Karadağ, emphasizing the logistical challenges behind the large-scale immersive setup.
Located within the İBB’s Digital Experience Center, the exhibition space was designed to accommodate multi-sensory installations and digital storytelling. Each room integrates projection, sound, and motion technology to produce an atmosphere of total immersion. The venue’s infrastructure allows for future exhibitions of similar scale, positioning Istanbul as a regional hub for experiential digital art.
Bridging Technology and Cultural Tourism
“Van Gogh: In the Footsteps of Light” adds to Istanbul’s expanding lineup of interactive cultural experiences that appeal to both local residents and international travelers. The exhibition aligns with global trends in art tourism, where immersive and multimedia installations increasingly attract audiences seeking new forms of engagement.
By integrating artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and 360-degree projection systems, the Digital Experience Center places Istanbul among the growing number of cities worldwide investing in digitally enhanced museums. The initiative reflects İBB’s broader strategy to incorporate technology into cultural development while promoting tourism through innovative platforms.
The exhibition’s success in attracting 55,000 visitors within its first month demonstrates strong demand for immersive cultural programming. It also underscores Istanbul’s role as a leading destination for modern art experiences in the region, offering travelers a technologically advanced way to connect with classic works of art.
The Digital Experience Center’s programming is expected to expand with future exhibitions using similar technology-driven approaches. As immersive exhibitions become a mainstay of contemporary museum culture, Istanbul’s investment in digital creativity highlights the city’s growing presence in the global cultural tourism landscape.
The “Van Gogh: In the Footsteps of Light” exhibition remains open throughout the year at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s Digital Experience Center.
