Immersive Exhibition: Its Theoretical Development, Its Audiences and the Re-discovery of Modern Art Exhibition

Abstract

As an innovative form of art exhibition, immersive exhibitions have gained popularity all over the world in recent years. Such exhibitions are not only a departure from traditional gallery displays but also lead to different modalities of visiting cultural sites. One distinguishable tendency, one that could be detected in the curatorial strategies of most contemporary exhibitions, is the increasing emphasis put on the aesthetic effect that exhibitions could offer. Correspondingly, the relationship between the visitors and the artworks is changed through the ways visitors situate and perform their bodies within such exhibitions. Unlike traditional exhibitions, immersive exhibitions allow visitors to wander more freely and interact with the settings more engagingly. This essay analyses 1) the common features of immersive exhibitions and the more general theories behind the curatorial principles; 2) the visitor's motivation for visiting, their behaviors during visiting, and how they build their self-image on social media with the aid of immersive exhibitions; 3) the effect and significance of immersive exhibitions in democratizing art and reconsidering the boundary of art. Drawing from the above-mentioned points, some intriguing questions that concern broader aspects within the discipline are also noteworthy.