Stepping into the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, FL, is like entering a portal to a world of imagination and surreal dreamscapes. This iconic institution, dedicated to the life and works of surrealist master Salvador Dalí, offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to explore the depths of his artistic genius. From the moment you enter, you are enveloped in the mesmerizing and thought-provoking realm that Dalí crafted through his paintings, and sculpture work.
The museum’s architecture itself is a work of art, a unique mixture of concrete brutalism and abstraction, a perfect vessel for the extraordinary collection it houses. Upon entry you are greeted by a life-size digital standee of Dalí as he welcomes you inside. Each gallery within the museum unfolds a visual narrative, guiding you through Dalí’s artistic evolution, his passion for symbolism, and his vivid exploration of the human subconscious. A visit to the Dali Museum is not just a glimpse into the life of a visionary artist but an immersive experience that challenges perceptions and invites you to embark on a journey of self-discovery and artistic appreciation.
One of the museum’s most captivating features is the integration of augmented reality (AR) overlays, which serve as invaluable tools for deciphering the intricate symbolism within Dalí’s works.
With AR, visitors can delve deeper into the layers of meaning, allowing for a richer understanding and appreciation of the artist’s masterpieces. As visitors gaze upon Dalí’s paintings through the app on their smartphones, they are guided through an interactive experience with animation and voiceover that unveils hidden details, explains the symbolism, and provides contextual information. After the audio description certain elements within the painting glow allowing users to tap to expand further on some of the most prominent symbolic depictions within the paintings.
https://thedali.org/exhibit/visual-magic-dalis-masterworks-in-augmented-reality/
I enjoyed these additional avenues of exploration as well as the docent guided tours as they sparked dialogues of intrigue and inquiry from gallery attendees.
To further enhance the accessibility of the AR features at the Dalí Museum, there are several suggestions that can be implemented. Firstly, providing captions for audio descriptions accompanying the AR overlays would greatly benefit individuals with hearing impairments, ensuring they can fully engage with the rich content. Additionally, introducing tablet device stations throughout the museum, preloaded with the necessary AR software, would allow patrons to experience the AR without the need to download an app on their personal phones. This approach accommodates visitors who may not have access to smartphones or prefer not to use their own devices.
Behind the main gallery there is an alcove with 3 seats and 3 screens where visitors can embark on an extraordinary VR journey titled ‘Dreams of Dalí. Here museum guides help to fit and adjust Quest II headsets and instruct users on how to navigate the experience using hands-free controls that employ head-tracking. This captivating VR experience, developed in 2016 in collaboration with Disney, offers an immersive and transformative encounter with Salvador Dalí’s imaginative universe.
Upon donning the VR headset, participants are transported into a realm where Dalí’s iconic painting, ‘Archaeological Reminiscence of Millet’s Angelus,’ comes to life. As participants explore this ethereal landscape, they are enveloped by the surrealist elements, experiencing the sensation of floating through the vibrant scenes. The ‘Dreams of Dalí’ VR experience seamlessly combines Dalí’s evocative art with cutting-edge virtual reality technology, allowing visitors to engage with his visionary creations in an entirely new and unparalleled way. It was also great that the experience of those in the headsets were broadcast on screen so those who experience sensory issues or may not want to wear a headset were able to get a glimpse of the wild dreamscapes on display.
https://thedali.org/exhibit/dreams-of-dali-in-virtual-reality/
To further enhance the accessibility of the VR features at the Dalí Museum, there are several suggestions that can be implemented. First the implementation of pop up visual instructions for the head tracking controls (where you align the central point of your viewport with bubbles on screen to teleport from location to location) during the intro to the scene may benefit those who are unfamiliar with VR or do not speak English. Secondly creating the option to switch to gaze-control that employs eye-tracking may greatly assist those with limited neck mobility.
In conclusion my visit to the Dalí museum was a joyful experience unlike any other. I look forward to further discussion with the staff at this establishment to potentially implement some of these suggestions to allow for greater accessibility and inclusion.
Special thanks to Andre Ajabshir, Experience Guide & Marketing Researcher at the Dalí Museum for their contributions to this article.