With international travel off the cards for the moment, virtual exploration has grown in popularity. From museums, galleries, and immersive documentaries, the world is full of wonders even if viewed on the screens of our electronic devices. So please sit back, relax and be inspired by art, institutions and our incredible planet.
Beneath The Waves
Let’s start in our backyard and head to The Kimberly for a look into the great unknown. Beneath The Waves in ‘an award-winning immersive documentary exploring one of Australia’s most unique, spectacular and mysterious marine environments’. Click through stunning videos and learn all about the various life forms that inhabit our ocean floor.
Natural History Museum
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards receives phenomenal entries that never cease to amaze. It takes craft and patience to capture this style of imagery, and I will always be in awe of these photographers. Explore the online gallery to see winners from current and previous years as well as other interactive exhibits.
The Louvre
How lovely it would be to wander Parisian streets and take in the grand historical sights. In the meantime, enjoy a virtual tour of The Louvre. With several exhibitions to choose from, you can enjoy 360-degree views of each room, wander the halls and zoom in on each artwork.
Mona Lisa: Beyond the Glass App
Keeping with the Parisian theme, the Mona Lisa: Beyond The Glass App is an insightful look at The Mona Lisa as you’ve never seen her before. Available for free download on Android and Apple app stores, it allows you to immerse yourself in a 360-degree video or use a cardboard viewer. Discover new findings on the most famous painting in the world.
Dalí Theatre-Museum
Let’s take a trip to Figueres now, the hometown of Salvador Dalí. Located in a former Municipality Theatre, The Dalí Theatre-Museum is the largest surrealistic object in the world. Another fun fact, Salvador Dalí is buried in the Theatre in a crypt below the stage.
Casa Azul – Frida Kahlo
Casa Azul is one of the most visited museums in Mexico and lucky for you you get to skip the line. Frida Kahlo was born and also died here, and if the walls could talk, they would tell some incredible tales. The Blue House remains much as it was in the 1950s as Kahlo’s husband Diego donated the house and all of its contents in her honour. See if you can find the mirror Frida Kahlo used to paint her famous self-portraits.
The Rubin Museum of Art
One of the most popular immersive exhibits at New York’s Rubin Museum of Art, The Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room can now be toured virtually and also listened to on Youtube. The two-hour recording includes chanting from the Buddhist monks of Maitri Vihar at Swayambhu in Kathmandu, Nepal, and nuns of Tibetan Nuns Project, India.
Artland
A fantastic site where you can explore smaller exhibitions from all over the world. Most have 3d virtual tours enabled so that you can take a stroll around the gallery space. Hours of immersive fun to be had here, and a chance to discover new artists and purchase original art.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Home of the famous Met Gala, you now have a chance to wander around the vast halls and various wings taking in the unique collections. With over two million works of art, you could easily spend an afternoon discovering what makes The Metropolitan Museum of Art one of the finest institutions in the world.
National Museum of Natural History
Larger than 18 football fields, The National Museum of Natural History is the most popular of its kind. There’s something truly magical about the building, I’ve even heard the exhibits come alive at night. Take your time exploring this iconic institution as there is a lot to see.
