BY JOSE PAOLO S. DELA CRUZ
Life-sized, up-close and almost within reach — this is how visitors will get to experience some of the art world’s most stunning masterpieces as “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” lands on Philippine soil on July 01, 2023.
If you can’t go to the Vatican anytime soon, then Martin Biallas and his team at SEE Global will bring the Vatican — or at least, the Sistine Chapel — to you.
“Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” is a collection of 34 high-quality, actual-sized panels that have been traveling the world since 2015. And unlike at the Sistine Chapel where almost seven million visitors per year look at these works from 66 feet below, these life-sized panels are almost within arm’s reach, enabling guests to see the Italian master’s iconic works — such as “The Creation of Adam” and the “Last Judgment” mural, to name a few — from an altogether different perspective.
“Seeing the frescoes like this is impossible anywhere else. The idea of this exhibit came from when I went to the Sistine Chapel in Rome and was rushed through. I barely saw anything and the art was 60 feet above me on the ceiling. It was honestly a really poor experience. I wanted to create an opportunity for people who cannot visit Rome, and for people to actually be able to take in the majesty of it all,” Martin told PeopleAsia via e-mail.
The result is a visual explosion that has resulted to tens of thousands of satisfied viewers from all over the world. “The exhibition has been over to multiple cities in the US, Europe, China and just finished a tour in Australia. It is currently in Brazil. It will, however, be the first time it is shown in Southeast Asia,” added artist and entrepreneur Sabrina Co, who has spent the past couple of years ensuring that the Sistine Chapel lands in Manila.
For her, bringing in the exhibit would be a great opportunity for people to experience “art and its potential to inspire, amaze, uplift and heal the gravely deprived human spirit,” especially after a harrowing pandemic.
Staying true to Martin’s vision of giving visitors the time to relax and truly soak in the beauty of the masterpieces, organizers will allow visitors to stay in the exhibit for up to an hour, which according to Sabrina, is more than enough to view all the frescoes and to listen to the audio guide that can be downloaded before entering the exhibition hall. “There will be other special extra-sensory surprises awaiting the visitor, who can also purchase some souvenirs or experience a special bonding time with their loved ones in the art activity area,” she added.
Sabrina also shared that on top of navigating certain circumstances brought about by the pandemic, finding the right location was key in staging this exhibit in Manila. In the end, “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition,” found its new home at the Estancia Mall in Pasig City.
“The space is a little more than 1,000 square meters, which was the minimum space required by the licensor. We considered schools, churches, exhibition halls, museums, but in the end, it made most sense to put it in a shopping mall. Estancia had the space, and the ceiling was sufficiently high,” added Sabrina.
With all these said, it’s time to plan your visit. And Martin, the man who conceptualized this ingenious exhibit, has a couple of tips. “First of all, make sure to see ‘The Creation of Adam.’ It has been referenced so many times throughout culture and to see it life size and up close is amazing. Next, I would say, is ‘The Last Judgment.’ There are so many intricate pieces of storytelling throughout it that it can be overwhelming to take it all in. And, of course, the ‘Delphic Sibyl,’ one of the most beautiful and serene frescoes of the entire chapel,” he says.
Sabrina also revealed that they intend to, hopefully, bring “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” to other parts of the Philippines. “We have already identified the space. If ever we push through, it will be at SM Seaside Mall from October until Christmas 2023 and Sinulog in January 2024,” she concluded.
Regular tickets are priced at P 650 on weekdays and P750 on weekends with special discount (20 percent) for PWDs, senior citizens and students. Visit sistinechapelphilippines.com for more information.
