On January 16, 2026, the exhibition From Light into Darkness: Experiencing Caravaggio with Virtual Reality opened at Guangzhou Library.
Caravaggio was a renowned Italian painter active from the late 16th to the early 17th century. His works are distinguished by dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, vivid character portrayals, and a strong sense of theatrical tension.
The exhibition is co-hosted by the Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou and the Guangzhou Library. Wearing VR headsets, visitors can immerse themselves in the dramatic scenes of Caravaggio's paintings.
The VR film recreates three key moments from the artist's life, combining animation and sound to offer a first-person perspective that highlights the close connection between his life and art.
Drawing on Guangzhou Library's documentary resources, the exhibition also reconstructs key scenes from the VR film in physical space. After removing the headset, visitors can enter immersive settings such as an artist's studio, taverns, and streets, and further explore Caravaggio and his era through texts, books, and documentary footage.
Valerio De Parolis, Consul General of Italy in Guangzhou, expressed hope that the exhibition would serve as an important platform for showcasing Italy's artistic heritage and further promoting cross-cultural dialogue between Italy and South China.
Venue: Multicultural Library, 8th Floor, Guangzhou Library (广州图书馆北楼八层多元文化馆)
Time: January 16, 2026–February 6, 2026
Free admission
For more information, please follow the WeChat official account "Multi-culture Library (广图多元文化馆)".
Author: Liu Yue
Photo: Guangzhou Library
Editor: Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
