A 'Starry Night' through your windscreen: Drive-in Van Gogh exhibition launches in Canada

The show is made up of two viewing areas in a large warehouse in Toronto

People sit in their cars as they experience a drive-in immersive Vincent Van Gogh art exhibit in Toronto, Ontario. AFP

Tyler Tsang, 4, peeks his head out of the car during the show. AFP

People take photos from their car as they experience the show, which runs until September. AFP

The exhibition lasts 35 minutes. AFP

The drive-in experience lets residents stay safe while experiencing the show. AFP

Joanna Christophi and her friend Lorraine Scholarchos sit in the car at the exhibition. AFP

The exhibit comprises two viewing areas in a large warehouse. AFP

The show gives a new view of some of the Dutch painter's most famous works. AFP

People sit in their cars as they experience a drive-in immersive Vincent Van Gogh art exhibit. AFP

There is also a room for those who want to see the art on foot. AFP

People are seen wearing masks as they experience the show. AFP

Works by Van Gogh are projected in high definition on the walls and floors. AFP

'The feeling is almost as if the car is floating through the art.' AFP

People sit in their cars as they experience a drive-in immersive Vincent Van Gogh art exhibit in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. AFP

While a number of galleries and museums across the world have been trying to find ways to adapt in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the organisers of a Van Gogh exhibition in Canada have taken a novel approach: offering art lovers a drive-in option.

The exhibition, which is taking place in Toronto, was initially slated to start in May and was delayed by the pandemic. It began welcoming visitors on Friday, as part of the city's gradual lifting of restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

"Because of Covid-19, we had to think creatively," Corey Ross, a co-producer of the exhibition, told AFP.  

The show comprises two areas in a large warehouse: one features social-distancing circles on the ground for those who would prefer to view it on foot, and the other is for people in cars, who can drive right into the space.

WWorks by the Dutch painter are projected in high definition on the walls and floor, giving visitors the feeling that they are seeing the artworks from within.

Viewing art from inside a car provides a safe experience for people who are wary of leaving home, while also creating a unique experience, Ross said.

"You've never had an experience like this in your car. The feeling is almost as if the car is floating through the art."

The show was set up in collaboration with the creators of Van Gogh, Starry Night, a hugely popular exhibition presented last year at l'Atelier des Lumieres in Paris.

The Toronto warehouse has space for up to 10 cars at a time. Once parked in designated spots, those inside can spend 35 minutes in the bold, intense world of Van Gogh.

Visitors must switch off their engines during the projections, which are accompanied by music and positioned so they can be clearly seen through a windscreen.

Ross said the idea is turning out to be a hit, but will remain a temporary solution.

"If you're a car enthusiast, it's a very special moment," he said.

"But I think overall, as soon as there's an opportunity for the public to go back to experiencing art in the way that we love to – in groups, beside other people, where you can talk and see strangers and see how they react and be part of a community – I think we will go back to that."

The art hall for cars is almost completely booked until the exhibition's end on Sunday, August 9. The show will remain open to pedestrians until September.