VINCENT: BETWEEN MADNESS AND WONDER - Multisensory show at UTOPIA in Munich

Following the celebrated successes of MONET'S GARDEN , VIVA FRIDA KAHLO , and TUTANKHAMUN, UTOPIA is once again dedicated to great art: Starting October 15, the exhibition VINCENT: BETWEEN MADNESS AND WONDER you on a journey into the colorful and ambivalent world of the legendary artist. The multisensory show stages the final years of Vincent van Gogh as an emotional experience, impressively illuminating the brilliant painter and his iconic works.

Multisensory 360-degree experience

A 360-degree experience, the immersive show offers a new perspective on the artist's final creative period, transporting visitors to the French cities of Arles, Saint-Rémy, and Auvers-sur-Oise. It was there, between 1888 and 1890, that the works that are now considered among the most famous in art history were created.

I dream my picture, and then I paint my dream.” (Vincent van Gogh)

At the heart of this impressive presentation is the close relationship between the painter and his brother Theo—friend, supporter, and arguably the most important constant in Vincent's life. The brothers' intensive correspondence is historically documented and forms the basis of the exhibition narrative.

Over one hundred letters, full of thoughts, doubts, and hope, open a window into Vincent's inner world and invite visitors to get closer to this extraordinary artist, who, with every brushstroke, painted against the darkness of his life. Visitors delve deep into Van Gogh's world of thought and experience how his fears and longings become tangible in letters, sketches, paintings, and stories.

In the showroom, the heart of the exhibition, visitors are literally drawn into the painter's fascinating world. They stroll alongside the exceptional artist to the "Café Terrace at Night ," stand beneath the sparkling sky of "Starry Night," and allow themselves to be completely enveloped by the luminous yellow of "Sunflowers ." While elaborate 360-degree projections create intoxicating worlds of color full of emotion, bringing van Gogh's works to life in a previously unknown way, visitors move freely within the space. They listen to the thoughts of the torn artist, sense his doubts, and sense his unwavering passion for capturing life in color.

Using state-of-the-art technology, van Gogh's works are projected onto surfaces up to 10 meters wide and over 5 meters high in the exhibition hall. This creates a holistic visual experience that reimagines his unmistakable colors and brushstrokes in vibrant light. Original quotations from his letters accompany the visual spectacle, creating a sense of connection to an artist whose work continues to deeply touch us today. A specially curated soundtrack acoustically complements the immersive world, creating a sensory, multimedia experience.

This captivating dialogue between art history and the present invites you glimpse into the soul of the great master and rediscover his works with all of your senses. An experience that will delight not only fans of the Dutch painter, but anyone who wants to feel, experience, and interact with art, thus momentarily escaping everyday life.

VINCENT: BETWEEN MADNESS AND WONDER is an intense encounter with the fire of color in the heart of a torn genius.

The man behind the myth

Vincent van Gogh is one of the most important artists of Post-Impressionism and profoundly influenced the art world with his expressive paintings. He only began painting seriously at the age of 27, having previously worked as a bookseller, teacher, and lay preacher, among other things.

His life was marked by existential crises, family conflicts, and health setbacks. Yet amidst this turmoil, he found a language in art, whose letters and words were colors. He wrote that when he felt ugly, old, evil, sick, or poor, he wanted to "take revenge through radiant, well-arranged, splendid color."

Art as a source of life

The years in Arles, Saint-Rémy, and Auvers-sur-Oise were marked by illness and isolation—but also by hope. In this short time, he created over 300 works, including some of his most famous paintings. For Vincent van Gogh, painting was not a pastime; it was an act of survival. In a letter to his brother Theo, he wrote poignantly:

I'll say it again—you have to work against indifference. Persevering isn't easy—but what's easy isn't worth much."

For him, color became an outlet, light a source of strength against the darkness of his soul. Vincent van Gogh's art is unfiltered, raw, and radically subjective—an open window into his world of thoughts and feelings.

Between light and shadow

When Vincent van Gogh took his life in Auvers-sur-Oise in July 1890, he had sold only one painting. He died believing he had failed. The significance of his work was only recognized decades after his death. Today, van Gogh is considered one of the most important painters of the modern era. His letters to Theo were full of doubt, passion, and deep brotherly love, providing fascinating insights into the man behind the canvas. His paintings are still touching today because they depict much more than sparkling starry skies and the blooming fields of Provence: They reveal the soul of a man who never stopped fighting for beauty.

Vincent van Gogh's work today

Paintings by Vincent van Gogh now fetch record prices on the international art market. In 2022, his painting "Orchard with Cypresses" (Verger avec cyprès) was auctioned for an impressive $117.18 million—a new record for van Gogh. His works hang in the world's most important museums, including the MoMA in New York and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

The latter houses the most comprehensive collection, with over 200 paintings and 500 drawings. None of Vincent van Gogh's descendants own any of his works today. Theo's son, as director of the Vincent van Gogh Foundation to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam in 1973. The family thus consciously decided to make Vincent's art accessible to the public rather than bequeath it to the next generation.

Information about the exhibition

Location: UTOPIA Munich
Heßstrasse 132, 80797 Munich

Duration: October 15, 2025 to January 11, 2026

Daily 10:00 to 20:00

Tickets from 22 euros at www.vangoghimmersiv.com

Recommended visit duration: approx. 75 minutes