Charlotte AndrewsSouth of England

BBC A projection of Vincent van Gogh’s “Starry Night” fills a curved planetarium dome, showing swirling blue skies, bright yellow stars and the dark silhouette of cypress trees in the foreground.BBC

Projections of the paintings have had to be resized to fit the planetarium dome

An immersive exhibition about the life of Vincent van Gogh is being staged in a planetarium for the first time.

Van Gogh Alive opened at Winchester Science Centre in Hampshire on Thursday.

The experience, which has toured more than 100 cities, animates iconic works such as Starry Night Over the Rhône and Sunflowers – but is now being screened in a planetarium dome in a world-first.

Ben Ward, the centre’s CEO, said the artist’s “real connection to the stars” made the venue a perfect fit.

Ben Ward, a man wearing a white shirt and dark blazer, stands inside a planetarium, with a large projection of Van Gogh’s star-filled night sky artwork illuminating the dome behind them.

Ben Ward says screening the experience in a planetarium helps Van Gogh’s art come alive in a unique way

Mr Ward said it was a different experience to seeing Van Gogh’s work in an art gallery.

“It’s taking an existing show and presenting it in a way where you can be a bit more immersed because you’re sat reclined and experiencing things happening around you,” he added.

Describing the inside of the planetarium, he said: “Imagine a big golf ball, about 20 metres wide, cut in half and scooped out – and we project on the inside of it in really high resolution.”

Winchester Science Centre A room filled with bright yellow sunflowers is reflected in mirrored walls and ceiling, creating the effect of an endless field of blooms. Warm golden lights form intersecting lines overhead, adding to the immersive, glowing atmosphere.Winchester Science Centre

A room containing more than 4,000 sunflowers represents Van Gough’s painting, Sunflowers

Lasting about 45 minutes, the digital exhibition is described as “multi-sensory” and includes snippets of letters to his brother Theo.

Also featured is a room filled with 4,381 sunflowers, allowing visitors to experience one of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings in physical form.

Van Gogh Alive is at Winchester Science Centre until 22 March 2026.