ART

ITALIAN RENAISSANCE comes ALIVE at HOTA GALLERY this weekend

WORDS: Amy Stalinescu PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied

HOTA, Home of the Arts has today unveiled the Australian premiere of Italian Renaissance Alive created and produced byGrande Experiences, opening March 30 at HOTA Gallery. 

From this weekend, HOTA Gallery’s expansive 1000m2 exhibition space transforms into a vibrant symphony of light, colour and sound with Italian Renaissance Alive, the next major exhibition from the contemporary arts and cultural precinct.

Audiences can prepare to be captivated by the beauty and brilliance from arguably the most significant artistic period in history, as they explore some of the most notable masterpieces from famed historic artists including Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli and Caravaggio.

From the creators and producers of the most visited multisensory experience in the world – Van Gogh Alive – Grande Experiences brings to life this interactive experience featuring stunning Renaissance art as an immersive digital experience.

Explore Michelangelo’s breathtaking Sistine Chapel, Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, and other glorious works by Raphael, Caravaggio, Titian, Veronese and more in an awe-inspiring, large-scale, immersive experience.

Accompanied by a compelling Italian operatic score featuring works by Puccini and Verdi, the multisensory experience is a visual and auditory feast that aims to captivate, educate, and entertain.

An Australian premiere, the major multisensory experience at HOTA Gallery on the Gold Coast will also feature a program of public events designed to explore the splendour of the 14th to 17th centuries and celebrate the period’s artistic and cultural influences.

On April 14, Renaissance in Bricks is the latest Clicking Bricks workshop presented by Andrew and Damian from LEGO Masters, inviting young creatives and adults alike to re-imagine the world of painting and sculpture through the medium of LEGO and craft Renaissance-inspired creations of their own.

HOTA Gallery hosts an intimate Expert Lecture Series on May 12, 19 and 29, delving into the distinct period in history as academic specialists and experts in Art History, Astronomy and History explore and discuss Renaissance events and themes.

Extending the Italian Renaissance Alive experience, HOTA Gallery presents an exclusive series of Oil Painting Masterclasses facilitated by prominent local artists in each session. Guiding participants on the foundational techniques and Renaissance influences relevant to the artist’s practice, this hands-on artmaking and learning experience features artists including Joel Rea (May 25), René Bolten (June 1), Anne Smerdon (June 15) and Michael Zavros (June 29).

Visitors can treat themselves to an exclusive Italian Renaissance Feast by Palette Restaurant, featuring renowned Italian television personality and author, Silvia Colloca, kicking off the evening with a Q&A and drink on arrival, with tickets on sale in the coming weeks.

Held inside the exhibition space – a unique opportunity not offered in traditional exhibition settings – this inimitable dining experience will include a 4-course feasting style menu paired with Italian wines, set at long tables throughout the exhibition for guests to marvel at the awe-inspiring works.

For those wanting to transport their tastebuds during the exhibition period, HOTA’s Palette Restaurant will also offer patrons the choice of a Tasting Menu inspired by history’s most artistic period, while playing homage to the generosity of Italian food culture

Menu highlights include Hervey Bay Scallops, Australian Bay Lobster Souffle, Moreton Bay Cuttlefish, Uovo in Raviolo, Bistecca Angus, Kangaroo Grass Flour Cozetti – an exclusive house made pasta utilising native flour – and Tuscan Marble dessert.

Then every Wednesday from April 3, HOTA Gallery visitors can purchase tickets to partake in a Pizza & Aperitivo Cocktail Masterclass up at The Exhibitionist Bar, or enjoy a tipple up on the balcony during Malfy Gin Aperitivo Hour, every Wednesday to Saturday from 4pm to 6pm.

Experience Gold Coast CEO, John Warn said: “We are thrilled to unveil this immersive cultural experience to Gold Coast locals and visitors alike and can’t wait to welcome audiences on a journey where art, creativity and technology merge together in something never before seen on the Gold Coast.”

Susi Muddiman OAM, Director, Gallery and Visual Arts, HOTA said: Italian Renaissance Alive is unlike anything we have presented here at HOTA Gallery. The awe-inspiring exhibition traverses the Italian Renaissance period, exploring and celebrating the rich artistic and cultural influences that inspired some of the world’s most iconic masterpieces.

This immersive, multisensory experience will be sure to delight Gold Coasters offering a unique opportunity to marvel at the beauty and brilliance of the Italian masters in a contemporary setting at HOTA Gallery.”

Grande Experiences CEO, Steve Smith said: “We are delighted that this exceptional experience will be at HOTA Gallery on the Gold Coast – Italian Renaissance Alive will offer visitors of all ages and backgrounds an entertaining, educational and enlightening experience, whether they are art and history aficionados or exploring the Italian Renaissance for the first time.”

Italian Renaissance Alive will be showcased using SENSORY4™, a unique system developed by Grande Experiences, which seamlessly combines multichannel motion graphics and cinema-quality surround sound, transforming the exhibition space into a dynamic, informative, and visually spectacular experience.

Marvel at the history and splendour of this extraordinary period, experiencing hundreds of masterpieces in glorious detail from some of the world’s most revered artists and sculptors in Italian Renaissance Alive from Grande Experiences at HOTA Gallery this March 30.

For more information visit the HOTA website: https://hota.com.au/whats-on/live/exhibitions/italian-renaissance-alive-grande-experiences 

 

MORE ABOUT GRANDE EXPERIENCES – ITALIAN RENAISSANCE ALIVE

Grande Experiences, creator and producer of Italian Renaissance Alive, is a global leader in the ideation, development, production, licensing, and installation of expansive exhibitions and immersive cultural experiences. Renowned for blending entertainment and education seamlessly, their distinguished portfolio includes the internationally acclaimed Van Gogh Alive, Monet & Friends Alive, Dalí Alive, Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius, Connection, and Street Art Alive, all of which have garnered recognition for their captivating narrative and innovative presentation.

Grande have an unsurpassed track record of displaying exhibitions and experiences more than 250 times across 180+ cities, transcending linguistic and geographic boundaries in 33 languages, spanning 6 continents to an audience of more than 23 million.

Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, Grande Experiences boasts a global presence with satellite offices strategically positioned in the UK and Italy. Beyond the touring experience division, they own and operate THE LUME Melbourne, the world’s largest digital immersive art gallery, and Museo Leonardo da Vinci, located in the prestigious Piazza del Popolo in central Rome. Furthermore, Grande partners with the Museum of Fine Art Newfields for THE LUME Indianapolis.

EXHIBITION DETAILS
Grande Experiences – Italian Renaissance Alive 
From 30 March to 4 August 2024
Open from 10am, final session at 3pm, 7 days
Tickets from $23
https://hota.com.au/whats-on/live/exhibitions/italian-renaissance-alive-grande-experiences