Touchy-feely with Van Gogh

The exhibition has replicas of some of the spaces the artist used, such as his bedroom in Arles, which is featured in his world-famous painting The Bedroom. [Photo by Feng Yongbin and Deng Zhangyu/China Daily]

Blerk says the show uses as many technologies as possible to show details of stories behind Van Gogh's works.

Those who are interested in the artist's works should go to the museum. But for those who want to understand the artist's 37-year life story, the show is a perfect experience, he says.

Like many multimedia shows promoting master artists, the Van Gogh show doesn't display any original works, although it's the first show of its kind created by a museum.

The previous multimedia shows on the lines of such artists as Monet staged in China were either produced by film studios or technology companies.

Ruger, the museum director, says that because of the vulnerable nature of the original works and limited transport options, many of Van Gogh's pieces rarely leave museums and some never travel.

"The 'experience' show is a world trend and we're in it. For museums, it's like an extension of the institution," he adds.