Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience – Exhibition Centre Liverpool

Billed as the UK premiere, Annerin Productions’ Beyond Monet arrives in Liverpool as an immersive experience of over 400 masterpieces including more renowned images including Water Lilies, Poppies at Argenteuil, and the one that started it all, Impression Sunrise.

Following on from last year’s Beyond Van Gogh – which returns on an alternating day basis in conjunction with this exhibition – it sadly also suffers from the same challenges which calls into question much of the drive and purpose behind these productions.

At the risk of repeating myself, Liverpool’s Exhibition Centre isn’t a curated gallery – very much clear tonight from the crinkled and wrinkled wrapping upon which the artwork is being projected – and there is no actual real artwork on display, so any critique is based on the quality of the experience and the extent to which it enlightens its audience, serving as an introduction to art.

As with Van Gogh last year, there is a winding route setting out a much-simplified backstory to Monet and whilst it hinted at some important points, such as Japanese influences, it doesn’t have the space to provide the necessary depth of information. This leads us to a singularly large room within which the work is projected to an accompanying soundscape, and with seating available, one is encouraged to dwell. With the availability of artwork driven much by copyright, the vast proportion is of lesser-known works with more popular and renowned images making an appearance.

Although billed as fully immersive with the suggestion that we can enter the work, the projections to wall and floor are 2-D. With animation and colourisation added in some instances there is a degree of activity to draw interest, but the continued absence of a ceiling invariably results in one’s eyes being drawn towards the overhead view of building services. The result is a series of overly enlarged intriguing images running across a flat surface, but I have to say lacking the richness, colour, shapes, depth, and textures that one experiences from seeing an original work of art. Equally, the introduction of selected movement into some images – from waves to windmills, trains to clouds and rain – seems completely at odds with the purpose behind Impressionist art.

As part of the exit route, visitors enter a separate space where they are able to walk across a reenactment of the famous green bridge at Giverny Gardens, but the reality of its plastic plants and garish backdrop made me think more of Glasgow’s Willy Wonka Experience which I’m sure was far from the intention.

So, putting the art history lesson to one side, does this serve as an introduction to Monet and Impressionism in general? Well, that has to be a yes, although I would have to say it didn’t resound as well as the Van Gogh experience but that may well be because the novelty factor is no longer there. However, if it serves to direct visitors to local art galleries such as Tate Liverpool and The Walker Art Gallery, or even the Lady Lever Gallery across the water, then it will have served a purpose.

Beyond Monet runs at Liverpool’s Exhibition Centre from 15^th June through to 15^th August, alternating with Beyond Van Gogh so check your dates before travelling. Further details including booking www.exhibitioncentreliverpool.com/whats-on/beyond-monet/

Reviewer: Mark Davoren

Reviewed: 14^th July 2025

North West End UK Rating: