Frameless London: where art breaks free from the canvas

We went along to London’s Frameless experience to find out why it offers a quirky addition to your group itinerary.

Heading down an escalator, ceiling adorned with lights, I was intrigued to how the team behind Frameless had pulled off what they set out to do – showcase art in a completely unique way with London’s first permanent digital immersive arts experience.

We began in the Beyond Reality gallery which is exactly that. Mirrors, lights and a powerful musical score transport you out of Marble Arch and into the world of the paintings themselves. There are moments you feel as if you’re floating along in The Garden of Earthly Delights or trekking through the desert with Salvador Dali’s The Elephants.

Then there’s the giant projection of Edvard Munch’s famous The Scream which gives a completely alternative perspective on the creation. It was fascinating watching others’ reactions too, all of us searching for how it was working – it was a completely immersive experience.

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The Colour in Motion gallery was probably my favourite; it’s as if you’re the painter mastering every brush stroke and pigment of colour as artworks by Monet, Van Gogh, Seurat and Morisot among others come to life all around you.

There was something very calming about this space, with your own movements affecting the motion of the ‘paintings’. It was truly wonderful and very clever indeed.

A fantastic concept and brilliantly executed, it was a great way to spend a couple of hours on a Thursday afternoon.

What is also impressive and apparent is how the creative team behind Frameless have managed to show the connections between artists working centuries apart – through the links with colour, techniques and subject matter.

It was another very different experience in The Art of Abstraction gallery; what appear to be giant nets bring the world of abstract art to life with bold colours, dynamic shapes and the use of music.

Just as abstract art pushes boundaries and invites you to see art in a different way, in this gallery, the art comes to life all around you which is a real treat for the senses.

Frameless in numbers:

40 pieces of art by 28 iconic artists.
The experience is set out across 30,000 square feet.
There are 50 Panasonic laser projections and 158 speakers.
An incredible 479 million pixels are delivered by a million lumens of light.

We finished in The World Around Us, the largest of the four galleries complete with fiery volcanoes, rumbling thunderstorms and dramatic oceans. Focusing on landscapes, you’re transported to Canaletto’s Piazza San Marco, Cezanne’s Avenue at Chantilly as well as Joseph Wright of Derby’s Vesuvius in Eruption.

The gallery uses special motion technology taking you on a journey through the centuries with floor to wall and celling displays; there is literally no space uncovered.

You can visit the galleries in any order and it even gives you an estimated time for the experience outside each one although I definitely could have watched the ‘shows’ more than once. There are also QR codes outside each gallery for the artworks you’re going to experience along with an explanation about the gallery and what you can expect.

Frameless is exactly that; it’s where art breaks free and invites you to step into the artworks themselves. You’re not simply looking at incredible paintings, you’re part of them and you’re guaranteed to experience them like never before.

Groups of eight or more can email groups@ticketmaster.co.uk to book – there are special rates depending on the size of the group.

There’s also an all-day café bar serving a range of food and drinks so you can make the most of your visit (and even an art-themed afternoon tea available).

For more information go to frameless.com