Let’s be clear, then: this is a review of the event I attended that premiered this immersive experience, not of Claude Monet’s art itself. As it was a ‘Press and VIP’ night, there was a lot of milling around as attendees were offered a welcome drink and an array of savoury snacks. Much of the mingling involved young people, or content creators, with iPhones filming everything. But more on that later.
The event was formally opened by Ben Williams, the ACC Liverpool Group’s Commercial Director. After a few words, he handed the platform over to the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Barbara Murray. She expressed how proud she was that Liverpool had been chosen for the UK premiere of ‘Beyond Monet’, referencing the success of ‘Beyond Van Gogh’ last year as a key factor. She outlined what we could look forward to in the Monet immersive experience.
Ben Williams then introduced Anna Parry, Head of UK Business Development at Annerin Productions, the company producing the event. She spoke eloquently about how passionate she found Liverpool to be as an art-loving city, and what visitors could expect from the Monet experience that differed from last year’s Van Gogh event.
In the one true act of officialdom everyone recognises, the Lord Mayor cut a ribbon to formally open ‘Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience’. The content creators had pushed their way to the front and, iPhones forward, in we went.
The first room featured several panels providing information about Monet’s life, his ideals, how he viewed his work, and why he painted the way he did. There were also two large picture frames, which the content creators were more interested in filming themselves inside than in learning about the man whose art we were there to celebrate. Moving through this room, you enter the main area where Monet’s work is projected.
State-of-the-art technology breathes new life into more than 400 of the artist’s paintings, including ‘Poppies’, ‘Woman with a Parasol’, and his most famous work, ‘Water Lilies’. These and less familiar canvases swirl around the space, covering it from floor to ceiling. All of this is accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful soundscape. Throughout, the content creators continued filming themselves against the ever-changing backgrounds.
You exit this room and enter a staggeringly beautiful recreation of the artist’s garden at Giverny and the Japanese bridge. The sounds and aromas of the garden stimulate your senses just as much as the visuals. The content creators had clearly found their wow moment. After this, the visitor exits into the exhibition shop. And therein lies the rub. For the duration and depth of the experience, it could be considered costly. Tickets range from £15–£40, with a standard adult ticket priced at £25.60. The visuals could be described as a digital gallery rather than a deeper artistic insight into Monet. It’s likely to become overcrowded, as every visitor will want their picture taken on the Japanese bridge before leaving.
Perhaps aware of this, a programme of complementary activities has been announced, including yoga, Pilates, meditation, and painting sessions, which will take place within the immersive space.
Should you go?
Absolutely—if you are seeking a sensory, visually rich escape from your everyday.
Maybe not—if you want a more in-depth exploration of Monet’s work.
‘Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience’ will alternate days with ‘Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience’ between 15th July and 15th August.
Full details can be found here;
https://www.exhibitioncentreliverpool.com/whats-on/beyond-monet/
Reviewer – Adrian Cork
On – 14.07.2025
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