A Michelangelo masterpiece makes its debut at the Exhibition Centre

Famous Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh recently won over Haligonians with an innovative exhibition dedicated to his works and now organizers behind a tribute to a master of the Renaissance period are hoping for a similar reception.

On display until July 31, the internationally-acclaimed Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition is an impressive collection of the famous Italian sculptor and painter’s celebrated frescoes that adorn the ceiling of the chapel in the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.

Digitally reproduced using an innovative technique that emulates the look and feel of the original works, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition will allow Nova Scotians the chance to view more than 30 of the magnificent artist’s masterpieces, including The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment up close.

“These (art pieces) are the exact size and they are amazing,” says Sylvia Noland, the business development manager for Los Angeles-based See Global Entertainment — the company behind the exhibition. “You can see every crack, you can see every brush stroke — it’s just amazing (that) it’s taken that image and brought it up close for everyone to be able to experience.”

Touring around the world since 2015, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition was the brainchild of See Global Entertainment’s CEO Martin Biallas who came up with the idea to reproduce the artist’s renowned ceiling frescoes after visiting the Sistine Chapel.

“He went in and (found) you have about a two-hour wait, then you get in there and you only get about 15 to 20 minutes, they won’t let you take any photos and you look up and everything looks like a postage stamp,” says Noland.

“His idea was ­— since he’s in the exhibit business — why not license them and put them on canvas so people can see them up close and get a chance to admire the art work at a different angle, (and) you can take as many pictures and as many selfies as you want.”

The exhibition will be on display at the Halifax Exhibition Centre Thursdays to Sundays throughout the summer with two admission packages — beginning at $30.20 per adult ticket and children (aged 4-12) starting at $22.80.

“It’s a 10,000 square foot venue that we need with a minimum of 12 foot ceilings because the exhibit is the very same size as what the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is,” explains Noland, who says it is a challenge to find cities that can accommodate the five international touring units of exhibition. “It’s a puzzle to put the different cities together with the different units that we do have.”

Starting in the year 1508, Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint examples and stories from the Old Testament on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.

Considered among the greatest artistic achievements in history, Michelangelo was originally reluctant to accept the duty but spent the next four years perched on scaffolding creating the legendary frescoes.

“We have QR codes at every panel,” explains Noland about the historical placards placed at each fresco in the exhibition. “Either you can read it or you can go up and take the QR code on your iPhone or Android and it will come up and start telling you.” 

Noland adds there are also audio devices available at the exhibition.

The exhibit aims to entertain guests of all ages. In addition to the accurately reproduced masterpieces, it also features a theatre that will screen an entertaining video that provides context to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.

“(It stars) a comedian and an animated Michelangelo character,” says Noland about the informal 20-minute video. “Because it is a comedian and Michelangelo bantering, you hear all these fun facts in a unique way that you remember them. I know that kids say, when they are here, that’s their favourite part — that video.”

For more information on Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibit, visit the website.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been edited to reflect the new end date of the exhibit, which was July 31.