Van Gogh's Starry Night comes alive in planetarium

An immersive exhibition about the life of Vincent van Gogh is being staged in a planetarium for the first time.

Van Gogh Alive opened at Winchester Science Centre in Hampshire on Thursday.

The experience, which has toured more than 100 cities, animates iconic works such as Starry Night Over the Rhône and Sunflowers - but is now being screened in a planetarium dome in a world-first.

Ben Ward, the centre's CEO, said the artist's "real connection to the stars" made the venue a perfect fit.

Mr Ward said it was a different experience to seeing Van Gogh's work in an art gallery.

"It's taking an existing show and presenting it in a way where you can be a bit more immersed because you're sat reclined and experiencing things happening around you," he added.

Describing the inside of the planetarium, he said: "Imagine a big golf ball, about 20 metres wide, cut in half and scooped out - and we project on the inside of it in really high resolution."

Lasting about 45 minutes, the digital exhibition is described as "multi-sensory" and includes snippets of letters to his brother Theo.

Also featured is a room filled with 4,381 sunflowers, allowing visitors to experience one of Van Gogh's most famous paintings in physical form.

Van Gogh Alive is at Winchester Science Centre until 22 March 2026.

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