Dome of Church of the Gesù, Rome, Italy; image: wikimedia.org
By now, many of us have been to immersive exhibits—within glorious projections of Vincent van Gogh landscapes, amongst recreations of Prince concerts or movie scenes, played in sprinkle-filled swimming pools at the Museum of Ice Cream, or endlessly reflected in Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror.
Even at church, designers and productions have a goal of getting us utterly involved, pulling us in, and losing or finding ourselves in the process. Seeing things as perhaps we’ve never seen them before.
How has this specialized exhibit genre become so popular? Immersive art provides a unique opportunity to envelop the public; to encourage experience and to bring a new dimension to appreciation of an installation. Some say it started in the 1960s.
There exists one that is much, much older: the Church of the Gesù Rome. Our daughter chose this site on a family pilgrimage to Rome, having studied Baroque art. We were unprepared for what a wow it is! First, there’s the architecture. A short walk from the Pantheon and the Forum Romanum, we found the 16th century church faces a square with the same name. Locals call it the “Chiesa del Gesù." Its façade introduced Baroque architecture to Rome and served as a model for other Jesuit churches constructed around the world. It is stunning. Yet, that initial experience barely prepares anyone for the beautiful experience inside.
The entire ceiling of the Gesù is an amazing dimensional fresco painted by Giovanni Battista Gaulli.
The entire ceiling of the Gesù is an amazing dimensional fresco painted by Giovanni Battista Gaulli. To help visitors see The Triumph of the Name of Jesus clearer, a large floor magnifying mirror allows you to see the vault in detail. The work is a multimedia composition of fresco painting, stucco, and architecture. As many have written, it is a masterpiece of illusion. It appears as the gilded ceiling opens, presenting a vision of the heavens.
It is an original immersive experience. It is immensely satisfying and moving to have your turn at the mirror. Looking up at the Gesù ceiling, one cannot help but feel the drama and power of the expression. It surrounds you. You become part of it.
How we share our artistic expressions matters. There is a desire to connect. Perhaps tethered to the pandemic or just a basic need, we need to “feel,” to have our thoughts and emotions stimulated.
Share your architecture and art. Call out the majestic details. Invite visitors to see the details, to hear your passion. Life is richer when we search for beauty and narrative within the unexpected.
