AccScience Publishing / AC / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/ac.3688
ARTICLE

 Immersive and virtual exhibitions: A reflection on… art?

Miriam López-Rodríguez1* Vicente Rodríguez-Pérez2 Ana F. López Rodríguez3
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1 Local Coordinator, European Campus of City-Universities EC2U Alliance, Vice-Rectorate for International Relations, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
2 Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
3 Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of León, León, Spain
Submitted: 17 May 2024 | Accepted: 22 July 2024 | Published: 3 October 2024
© 2024 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
Abstract

This paper explores the conceptualization and evolution of virtual exhibitions and immersive art experiences, highlighting their distinctions and similarities. Virtual exhibitions, conducted online or through digital media, offer a platform for showcasing artworks to a global audience without physical constraints. They employ multimedia elements to engage viewers and provide flexibility in exploration. Conversely, immersive art experiences create environments that envelop the viewer, stimulating multiple senses and often incorporating advanced technologies, such as virtual reality and augmented reality. These experiences aim to evoke emotional responses and facilitate active engagement with the artwork. While proponents argue that virtual exhibitions and immersive art experiences democratize access to art and offer new avenues for artistic expression, critics have raised concerns about their impact on authenticity, viewer engagement, and art commercialization. Philosophical and cultural perspectives, including phenomenology and postmodern theory, shed light on the complexities of these art forms and their relationship with reality and simulation. This paper, further, examines the social and business implications of virtual exhibitions and immersive art experiences, noting their growing popularity and influence on the art market. It discusses the viewpoints of artists, critics, and scholars, both supportive and critical, regarding technology’s role in art and its effects on the viewer’s experience. Virtual exhibitions and immersive art experiences represent an evolving landscape in the art world, offering opportunities for innovation and debate. Their impact on the perception and consumption of art remains a subject of ongoing discussion. The paper concludes with a review of successful virtual exhibitions, highlighting their role in expanding access to art and cultural experiences globally.

Keywords
Augmented reality
Immersive art
Virtual reality
Virtual exhibitions
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Arts & Communication, Electronic ISSN: 2972-4090 Published by AccScience Publishing