Exhibitions in museums are different. But for the first time in Ukraine, a virtual exhibition was created for the museum, which can be viewed in a VR helmet. And we are proud that our specialists created it for the National Art Museum of Ukraine.
This virtual exhibition allows you to find yourself among the walls of the museum almost a hundred years ago.
Photo: @pokerfacedima
Ukrainian portrait of the 17th-20th centuries
The exhibition “Ukrainian portrait of the 17th-20th centuries” was organized in 1925 by prominent scientists Danylo Scherbakivskyi and Fedir Ernst. It formulated the criteria and directions of Ukrainian art, which are relevant to this day.
They selected 259 portraits from the museum’s collection and opened the exhibition in three halls on the second floor. A catalog was created based on the materials of the exhibition, which has survived to this day.
Unfortunately, over time, the museum’s collection underwent significant changes. Some paintings were removed, others were transferred, and some were even lost. Thanks to long-term research by scientists of the National Art Museum of Ukraine, almost all works from the exhibition were not only identified but also found their current place of preservation. Employees of the museums of Kyiv, Lviv and Kharkiv joined the cooperation. Some or other portraits were included in the collections.
Based on these materials, we recreated the 1925 exhibition “Ukrainian portrait of the 17th-20th centuries” in virtual space.
Virtual exhibition
To begin with, the virtual premises of the three halls where the exhibition was located were drawn. Based on the materials of the catalog, portraits were placed and interior items were painted. The furniture is displayed schematically so that all attention is focused on the paintings. Almost everyone was framed, which did not escape our attention. About 200 frames were drawn.
But the work did not end there. An audio guide was created based on the materials of the catalog. The announcer read the text in the language of the beginning of the 20th century to fully immerse himself in the atmosphere of that time. We also left icons with photos of the decorated exhibition in 1925.
A description was left for the portraits, and by “moving” through the halls you can get to know the paintings up close.
“Ukrainian portrait of the 17th-20th centuries” is the result of many years of work of different generations, which demonstrates the history and exceptions of Ukrainian portrait art. The exhibition received a new life in virtual reality. Thanks to the latest technologies, access to it is now available to everyone who wants to learn about Ukrainian art.
