In praise of immersive exhibitions

‘Immersive’ exhibitions get a bad rap. And it’s not hard to see why. But if, like me, you find yourself hard-pressed to concentrate on Important Art when troubled by the cares and complexities of life, then digitally amplified sensation and spectacle might be a decent alternative if your museal itch needs scratching in stressful times.

There are two notable options in London right now. The first is Vogue: Inventing the Runway, at the Lightroom in King’s Cross. Drawing on Vogue‘s nearly 150 year old archive, it’s a show about the catwalk’s flashpoints, narrated by Cate Blanchett. 

For those who missed the wildly popular and – I hate to admit it – helplessly enjoyable Hockney show at this new centre for immersion, the Lightroom is a vast chamber, in which you have minimalist boxes as seating and a visual and aural narrative presented in a gigantic way all around you.

With this show, I felt dazzled and very old.