{"id":5732,"date":"2018-12-18T10:59:34","date_gmt":"2018-12-18T09:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lucidrealities.studio\/?p=5732"},"modified":"2020-02-02T11:58:12","modified_gmt":"2020-02-02T10:58:12","slug":"moonshot-claude-monet-the-water-lily-obsession-how-virtual-reality-creates-a-magic-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lucidrealities.studio\/index.php\/2018\/12\/18\/moonshot-claude-monet-the-water-lily-obsession-how-virtual-reality-creates-a-magic-moment\/","title":{"rendered":"MOONSHOT | Claude Monet, The Water Lily Obsession: How Virtual Reality Creates a Magic Moment"},"content":{"rendered":"

I recently had the opportunity to visit Paris for some client work. Over the weekend, I enjoyed a lot of what Paris offers: unbelievable food, even better wine, and captivating views. I also ended up getting a glimpse at a future for museums around the world: the use of virtual reality to enrich our understanding of culture and history.<\/p>\n

\u201cWater Lilies\u201d at the Mus\u00e9e de l\u2019Orangerie<\/h4>\n

One of my favorite aspects of Parisian culture is the sense of history among one of the world\u2019s most modern, innovative cities. For the better part of a weekend morning, I visited the Mus\u00e9e de l\u2019Orangerie, where I became immersed in a cycle of Claude Monet\u2019s famous Water Lilies<\/a><\/em> paintings. Throughout his life, Monet created hundreds of paintings as part of the Water Lilies<\/em> series, which are housed in museums around the world. The permanent display at the Mus\u00e9e de l\u2019Orangerie consists of an oblong pair of galleries fitted with eight panoramic panels, a truly immersive experience in and of itself. Seeing Water Lilies<\/em> in this setting is without a doubt the most moving, beautiful, emotion-evoking work of art I\u2019ve ever experienced in person. The size and scale are breathtaking. The way the rooms are set up in a panoramic fashion makes you feel like you\u2019re being immersed in the paintings. Because of Monet\u2019s painting technique, you can appreciate the scope of paintings from afar, and then when you see them close-up, you can see how the individual strokes work together to create inspiring art.<\/p>\n

In addition, as if the two 360-degree rooms weren\u2019t enough, the museum offers a virtual reality (VR) experience called \u201cClaude Monet, The Water Lily Obsession<\/a>\u201d to help visitors better understand and appreciate the story behind Water Lilies<\/em>. After viewing the paintings, I became immersed in the VR experience, which deepened my appreciation for the paintings by educating me about Monet himself. For example, VR took me into Monet\u2019s garden in Giverny, the setting that served as the muse for Water Lilies<\/em>. As the official press release from HTC Vive (provider of the VR gear) states<\/a>, \u201cYou stand in the shallow waters at Giverny, inspired as he was inspired by the dappled light and fickle seasons waxing and waning across the lilies and bulrushes. You are then transported to Monet\u2019s studio, where a virtual canvas is stretched taut above and around you and the artist\u2019s bold, searing brushstrokes build up across your vision.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes, and that\u2019s just for starters. You also learn something about Monet\u2019s times. For example, you learn that as World War I ended, Monet bequeathed a group of Water Lilies<\/em> to France as both a monument to peace and a gesture of friendship to French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau. Here is VR on its best day \u2013 supporting the mission of an organization, in this case to help a museum educate and engage its visitors, which is becoming harder to do in an age when people multitask with digital devices.<\/p>\n

A Successful Experience<\/h4>\n

\u201cClaude Monet, The Water Lily Obsession<\/a>\u201d worked on two levels for me:<\/p>\n