Devon

You wait ages ages for something cultural and then whadd&#8217;ya know, two exciting-looking exhibitions come along at once! So, with my sticky paws on the preview invite, I elbowed by way to front of the local press pack to get a sneak peek on the same night. I should say although both Beyond Van Gogh and Titanic Exhibition are right next door to each other at Exeter&#8217;s Westpoint, and both running until 31 October, there are no joint entry tickets. So, take your pick &#8211; maritime history or art history, or do both for hours of immersive family fun.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-titanic-exhibition">TITANIC EXHIBITION</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-photo.jpg" alt="huge blown-up colour photo at Titanic Exhibition " class="wp-image-80988" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-photo.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-photo-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-photo-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-photo-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



It&#8217;s a tragic tale that&#8217;s been told many times since the Titanic hit the iceberg on the early hours of April 15 1912, resulting in the loss of over 1500 lives, but I genuinely felt this walkthrough offered something I hadn&#8217;t seen before.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-music.jpg" alt="sheet music playing on the Titanic as it sank " class="wp-image-80990" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-music.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-music-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-music-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-music-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The sheet music playing on the Titanic as it sank</figcaption></figure>



Ranging from artefacts recovered from the crew and passengers, to reconstructions of the ship&#8217;s bridge (which you can stand on) and audio and text guides, there&#8217;s at least an hour of interactive reading and looking. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-maydays.jpg" alt="Titanic Exhibition " class="wp-image-80993" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-maydays.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-maydays-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-maydays-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-maydays-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



There&#8217;s an 18ft scale model of the ship, compete with a model of a miniature Rolls Royce being lifted on the deck which you can get up close to, and a piece of beautifully carved banister which the white-gloved staff will remove from the box for closer inspection. The transcript of the calls for help between the crew and the Carpathia is particularly moving (above).



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-1.jpg" alt="full colour image of writing and reading room at the Titanic Exhibition " class="wp-image-80991" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-1-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-1-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-1-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



What makes it new is the, well, Titanic scale and quality of the photographs of the ship&#8217;s interior, which have been made full-colour, digitally rendered then blown up to larger than life-size.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-photos.jpg" alt="Titanic Exhibition Exeter " class="wp-image-80994" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-photos.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-photos-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-photos-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-photos-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



The vivid images really give you a sense of the splendour of the interior, what it would have been like to sit in the dining room, on a mahogany table screwed with brass plates to the floor with the gleaming chandeliers overhead. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1333" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/dik-barton.jpg" alt="info board about Dik Barton at Titanic exhibition Exeter " class="wp-image-80995" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/dik-barton.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/dik-barton-600x800.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/dik-barton-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/dik-barton-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



If you buy an Expert Pass you can also hear an exclusive lecture from Dik Barton, Vice President of Operations for RMS Titanic, Inc. He was the first British man to dive the 2.5 miles to the Titanic&#8217;s watery grave, and will share his first hand experience of exploring the wreck.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1333" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-selfie.jpg" alt="selfie at the Titanic Exhibition " class="wp-image-80992" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-selfie.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-selfie-600x800.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-selfie-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/titanic-selfie-768x1024.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Near, faaaar, wherever you&#8230; okay I&#8217;ll shut up now</figcaption></figure>



Ooh, and don&#8217;t miss your Kate Winslet moment at the end.



<a href="https://westpointexeter.co.uk/whats-on/titanic-exhibition/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Titanic </a><a href="https://westpointexeter.co.uk/whats-on/titanic-exhibition/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Exhibition</a>, tickets cost £9.99-£21.99, 0-5s free.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-beyond-van-gogh">BEYOND Van Gogh </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="999" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/09/beyond-gogh.jpg" alt="Beyond Van Gogh " class="wp-image-79808" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/09/beyond-gogh.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/09/beyond-gogh-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/09/beyond-gogh-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/09/beyond-gogh-768x767.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/09/beyond-gogh-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



Beyond Van Gogh is an immersive multimedia art exhibition of over 300 paintings by the Dutch artist. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="775" height="520" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/08/beyond-yoga.jpg" alt="Beyond Yoga Beyond Van Gogh" class="wp-image-79030" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/08/beyond-yoga.jpg 775w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/08/beyond-yoga-768x515.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 775px) 100vw, 775px" /></figure>



You can buy ordinary tickets or go for one of two yoga classes on the Saturday mornings at the show (led by local yoga teacher Pretzel Studio) which includes an hour-long session plus admission to the exhibition.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-1.jpg" alt="Beyond Van Gogh exhibition " class="wp-image-81000" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-1-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-1-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-1-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Before you enter the main hall, you walk through an Introduction Hall lined either side with digitally-lit boards of Van Gogh&#8217;s personal letters to his brother Theo, between suspended gilt frames. 



There&#8217;s also a large darkened area with swirling lights and ambient mood, apparently to awaken your senses and get you in the mood for arty immersion. It also ups the suspense!



Then, it&#8217;s the main event &#8211; the Immersive Room where, using projection technology, the artists iconic paintings are made large, covering walls 3m+ high and swirling across the floor. You can sit on a numerous wooden bench dotted about the place and take it in, or wander around as daubs of colour paint the ground beneath your feet.



All the biggies are here, from the wheatfields, with crows brought to life flapping serenely across the screen, to self-portraits with mesmerising eyes which every now and then will blink. Quite eery!



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-2.jpg" alt="Beyond Van Gogh exhibition at Exeter Westpoint " class="wp-image-81002" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-2-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-2-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-2-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



The highlight for me was The Starry Night which comes to life slowly as the white spirals form and reform across the backdrop and finally swirl around you as the ambient music plays.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="707" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-vangogh-1000x707.jpg" alt="Beyond Van Gogh " class="wp-image-80998" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-vangogh-1000x707.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-vangogh-800x566.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-vangogh-768x543.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2025/10/beyond-vangogh.jpg 1312w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Credit Andrew Teebay</figcaption></figure>



When the floor was really doing its stuff, I wished there was a higher vantage point to take it in better, and for a total immersion the ceiling covered too, like purpose guilt galleries, such as London&#8217;s Lightroom. That said, I found it at points really moving and quite haunting. The size and quality of the pictures makes it a fabulous way to rediscover VG, and it&#8217;s a brilliantly relaxed way to introduce kids to art.



<a href="https://westpointexeter.co.uk/whats-on/beyond-van-gogh/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beyond Van Gogh</a>, tickets £14-£27, 10am-7.30pm daily until 31 Oct 2025.

First look: Beyond Van Gogh & Titanic Exhibition, Westpoint, Exeter

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