All images courtesy of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition®
Forget a trip to Vatican City, a captivating new exhibition in Sunset Park brings the breathtaking frescoes of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel to Brooklyn. Debuting on October 11 in Industry City, “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” showcases 34 of the chapel’s iconic frescoes, meticulously reproduced and enhanced to offer visitors an even more vivid experience. While tourists traveling to Italy must crane their necks 66 feet to view the original frescoes, the exhibition allows visitors to experience their stunning beauty up close.
The frescoes have been reproduced using licensed high-definition photos, brought to life with a special printing technique that mimics the look and feel of the original paintings. Visitors can see every minuscule detail, brushstroke, and color of the 34 frescoes, accompanied by signage to give insights into their creation.
In 1505, Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, envisioning a theme centered on the Twelve Apostles. Michelangelo considered himself more of a sculptor than a painter and found this proposal “poor” and put forth a more complex series of frescoes instead.
Spanning 800 square meters, the ceiling is an embodiment of Michelangelo’s artistic genius through densely populated compositions that depict stories from the Old and New Testaments, ranging from Creation to the Last Judgement.
Rather than following the traditional narrative from Creation to the Fall and expulsion from Paradise, Michelangelo also included scenes from the life of Noah. The frescoes also feature other biblical stories, representations of prophets, and other religious themes framed by painted architecture.
After four and a half years of work, the frescoes were inaugurated on November 1, 1512. Michelangelo created the extraordinary artwork largely on his own and under challenging conditions.
“This exhibition is like a sanctuary that transports you to a completely different world and Industry City is the best place to experience Michelangelo’s works from a new angle,” Martin Biallas, CEO of SEE® Global Touring, producer of the exhibition, said in a statement.
“When I visited the Sistine Chapel in Rome, there were long lines, and we were rushed through. Our New York exhibition will allow visitors to enjoy iconic art life-sized and up-close and at their own pace. It is an inspiring and unforgettable experience.”
The exhibit is touching down in Brooklyn after stopping in London, Shanghai, Toronto, Chicago, Vienna, and other cities across the globe, according to TimeOut.
Free audio guides in various languages will be available, allowing you to explore the world-famous art at your own pace.
“The IC community is a blend of traditional craftsmen, cutting-edge artists, and tech innovators, making this modern interpretation of the Sistine Chapel a perfect fit,” Jim Somoza, managing director at Industry City, said.
“Industry City aims to offer exciting and accessible art experiences for New Yorkers, and this exhibition does just that.”
The exhibition is located on the ground floor of 900 Third Avenue and is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Fridays.
Tickets are priced at $22 for adults, $14.80 for children over six, and $18.40 for seniors and military members; children five and under can enter for free.
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Photos courtesy of Industry City
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