This week on Here’s What We Know, join us for a fascinating conversation with John Zaller, Executive Director of the Van Gogh Immersive Experience. As a leading curator and distributor of renowned immersive exhibitions, John brings over 25 years of expertise in production, visual art, and set design to the table. Listen in as we dive deep into Vincent Van Gogh’s life and artistry, discussing his revolutionary impact on painting, his personal struggles, and his enduring legacy. Don’t miss this chance to gain insights into how Van Gogh’s work continues to captivate and influence the art world today. Tune in now!
This episode is sponsored by:
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In this Episode:
- John shares insights from his career in immersive experiences and exhibitions.
- Discover John’s creative processes, and inspirations behind writing and designing immersive experiences.
- Insightful commentary on cultural Americanization affecting name pronunciation (Van Gog vs. Van Go). – Explanation about Dutch pronunciation: [van Khokh].
- Delve into Van Gogh’s mental health challenges and how they influenced his work
- Find out alternative theories about Van Gogh’s death and pivotal moments in his later years.
- Discussion on how Vincent Van Gogh revolutionized classical painting norms with his use of thick brushstrokes, vibrant colors, and depictions of everyday subjects.
- A touching look at the relationship between Theo Van Gogh and Vincent—how family support often plays a critical part in nurturing creativity against odds.
Quotations:
“It’s a way that I can express myself, it’s first through the written word and then everything else that I’ve learned and I’ve taught myself has been how to turn those words on the page into the reality that people experience.” ~ John Zaller
“When I go to create something, I always start with the written word and what I find fascinating is that I have no idea where it comes from.” ~ John Zaller
“I’m channeling a creative spirit that I just hope I don’t lose. I just try to hang on to.” ~ John Zaller
“We’re all vulnerable, but a lot of us, the majority of us, have figured out how to just make it appear that we’re not.” ~ John Zaller
Bio:
John Zaller is the executive producer of Exhibition Hub, a curator and distributor of world-renowned immersive exhibitions. He has honed his unique skills of production, visual art, and set design for more than 25 years while working in the museum, entertainment, retail, and attractions/theme parks industries through his own immersive design firm, KRE8 360, that specializes in creating story-driven, traveling immersion experiences. He has contributed to creating and overseeing multiple immersive experiential environments including Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition; Jurassic World: The Exhibition; Bodies the Exhibition; Star Trek: The Exhibition; and the Themed Entertainment Association’s Thea award-winning experience at the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station. Most recently, Zaller has been credited for his contributions and skillful expertise on Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, which was named the 2021 best immersive experience by USA Today and among the 12 best immersive experiences in the world by CNN. He has been working with Exhibition Hub for more than a decade and is responsible for the implementation of all Exhibition Hub properties in the United States.
Guest Contact Info:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwzaller/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exhibitionhub_eh/
Van Gogh Immersive Experience Website: https://vangoghexpo.com/