Alte Nationalgalerie Berlin: Magical Reflections

We take and share about one trillion digital images each year and among the most popular images being shared are selfies taken in front of famous objects, places and monuments. Meta and Alte Nationalgalerie Berlin have collaborated with International production company makemepulse to create 'Magical Reflections', a VR/XR experience which connects visual and virtual arts, captures the creative vision of the old masters, and transforms their iconic artworks into virtual photography hotspots. Magical Reflections is a cinematographic 3D gallery showcasing multiple works of the iconic artist Johann Erdmann Hummel all on display at the renowned Alte Nationalgalerie Berlin. One feature invites visitors into The Granite Dish, one of Hummels most iconic paintings. The visitor can step inside the artwork, navigate a defined area of the painting and using virtual photography, take a snapshot and share on Facebook enabling them to be fully immersed into the artwork. Virtual photography is a growing movement and started out in video games. What might have initially been intended by developers as a novel way to get players to share screenshots of a game on social media - and get it trending - has led to, some claim, the birth of a genuine new artform. In Magical Reflections it allows the visitor to observe the piece from a different and unique perspective - their own - and experience the story Hummel wanted to tell in his painting. In the main gallery inspired by the interior of the real-life Alte Nationalgalerie Berlin, art lovers are able to view a variety of paintings, zoom in for a closer look and rotate the camera to experience the piece in multiple angles, often with subtle changes of light depending on the angle - as if in a real life gallery.