Inside the ‘Michelangelo Sistine Chapel Experience’ Exhibit: A Review
The supposed immersive experience and highly anticipated cultural event per the advertisements may leave you feeling underwhelmed if you have high standards for this Sistine Chapel experience.
Testament to Michelangelo’s artistic genius and a sanctuary of unparalleled beauty are the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel, which have captivated art enthusiasts for centuries. However, for those unable to embark on a pilgrimage to Rome, the Sistine Chapel Exhibition in the Philippines offered a promising alternative. Promising an immersive experience and an opportunity to examine life-size reproductions of the revered frescoes, this Vatican-approved exhibition stirred great anticipation. Nevertheless, while the exhibition may appeal to those yearning to get closer to Michelangelo’s art, it ultimately falls short of delivering a truly transformative encounter.
Personal meanderings and observations in the exhibit
The exhibition, hosted in a gallery-like space at Estancia Mall in Pasig City, boasts meticulous recreations of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling and wall frescoes. The sheer magnitude of the artworks, replicated to scale, attempts to elicit a sense of Italian grandeur as one steps into the space. What comes in the exhibit are the scannable QR codes with accompanying audio guides to help you understand the frescoes better. (However, I wasn’t able to try it since my friends and I decided to exchange thoughts and insights about the Old Master’s art… which I find delightful, to be fair.) There were also displays of fake candles, visual guides on flatscreen TVs (documentaries), and classical music that doesn’t really provide the Italian vibes.
While the life-size tapestries were able to capture the intricate brushwork, color palettes, and nuanced expressions that characterize Michelangelo’s masterpieces, these facsimiles cannot fully capture the awe-inspiring nature of the original frescoes.
I might have been wrong to expect a Stendhal syndrome-like sensation from the exhibit. After all, these were just life-sized reproductions of the art. One of the inherent limitations of the exhibition lies in its inability to replicate the architectural marvel that is the Sistine Chapel itself. The actual chapel, with its soaring ceilings, delicate lighting, and sacred ambiance, elevates the experience of viewing Michelangelo’s art to a profound spiritual encounter. In contrast, the exhibition’s sterile setting cannot recreate the atmospheric intensity that permeates the sacred space in Rome. Instead, the dark atmosphere may give you a nauseating, almost claustrophobic feeling.
Moreover, while the life-size reproductions offer an opportunity to appreciate the intricate details of Michelangelo’s work up close, they lack the inherent patina of age and the tactile nature of the original frescoes. The textural nuances, the crackling of the paint, and the play of light and shadow on the chapel’s surface are irreplaceable aspects of the original artworks. Consequently, despite the exhibition’s best intentions, the emotional resonance that emanates from the genuine Sistine Chapel frescoes remains elusive, so I suggest that you shouldn’t expect much.
Nevertheless, the exhibit does serve as an educational platform for art enthusiasts and the general public. The accompanying informative panels and audio guides provide valuable insights into Michelangelo’s artistic process, historical context, and the theological significance of the frescoes. These educational elements enable visitors to engage more deeply with the art and gain a greater understanding of the profound narrative embedded within each masterpiece.
Side note: There’s a souvenir shop and photo booth (free) at the end of the exhibit space, which is quite amusing.
About the exhibit:
Location: 2F (North Wing), Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, Pasig City
Rates: Php 650 (Weekdays), Php 750 (Weekends) [group package is also available]
Runs from July 1 to September 30, 2023
