A touring immersive art exhibition showcasing the work of landscape artist, Samual Palmer, and featuring Virtual Reality (VR) has opened at a Sevenoaks gallery this January.

It’s not your usual exhibition with only artwork hung on walls to look at – visitors can also join in with free walks, talks, workshops and experience a virtual reality film, transporting them to the landscape from the comfort of the gallery.

Samuel Palmer: Visionary Landscapes exhibition brings together a collection of Victorian artist Samuel Palmer’s highly unusual and imaginative work, with creative responses from artists living in or near the area. Palmer lived and worked in Shoreham, Kent for a decade, where he was inspired to recreate the Darent Valley Landscape. Much of which remains very similar to what he saw. (Yes, the M25 has since cut through in the distance, but was built low, buried from view, giving today’s admirers a similar view to his).

The exhibition opened at The Kaleidoscope Gallery in Sevenoaks, Kent, on 12 January, where it will stay for two months, before moving to Dartford in mid-March.

Once the touring exhibition comes to an end, the gallery will be available to view online, offering a virtual visit to those not able to come to the galleries – a global audience awaits.

Immersive
A free programme of events will run alongside the four-month exhibition, offering visitors the chance to not only see the modern interpretations of his work, but to also step into the Darent Valley using VR headsets, to watch a film that follows the course of the river Darent from dusk to dawn and from source to sea. Listen to the audio guide that reveals what happens when no-one is watching – from insects, to wildlife, to the trees; the sights, sounds and wonder of nature that you just might miss on a walk, especially if you’re not crawling around on the floor where some of the piece is filmed from!

A piece of music has also been composed from the sounds of the Darent Valley – by Paul Cheese’s TheBigRecord: Darent Valley project. He asked people from the Darent Valley area to share sounds they recorded themselves, let him know what to record and where and also to give their ideas for sounds that remind them of the area.

During the exhibition, visitors can create their own art inspired by Palmer at workshops run by the artists themselves, listen to experts’ talks and join walking/drawing tours led by Palmer art historians.

The exhibition
Samuel Palmer: Visionary Landscapes is an exciting interpretation of the traditional exhibition format, aimed at bringing the work of a significant historical artist to a local audience in a dynamic, interesting and relatable way.

Visitors to the gallery will see a selection of high-quality prints of work by Palmer made during his time in Shoreham, artwork by 20th century artists influenced by Palmer and contemporary art created for the exhibition by artists living locally inspired by both Palmer and the stunning Darent Valley landscape.

Visitors to the gallery will also see artwork by local school children, an immersive virtual reality experience commissioned by DVLPS (Darent Valley Landscape Partnership Scheme) and photographs by participants of a DVLPS project responding to the landscape.


Sarah Moon, National Landscape Manger said “Samuel Palmer: Visionary Landscapes is an exhibition with a difference, which aims to engage a wide and diverse audience with the works of Samuel Palmer, local art and the landscape of the Darent Valley.

“The exhibition will include high quality prints of Palmer’s most important works alongside responses from artists living in the local area as well as artwork by local school children. A virtual reality film as well as the playing of sounds collected throughout the Darent Valley will ensure this is a truly immersive experience.
“An events programme will run throughout the duration of the exhibition and will include includes talks, walks, art workshops and tours for all audiences. Who knows – the next Samuel Palmer might be living locally and revealed at a workshop.”

Inspired by a hands-on experience, exhibition visitors can then download the Darent Valley Trails app, to follow the Samuel Palmer Trail – an audio/visual tour which takes you through the landscape he knew, set to a commentary of audio detailing his life.

The app also contains a selection of self-guided walking trails to enjoy – varying distances and ability.
Just download before you head out, so that you have your map to hand and can enjoy a digital detox while you explore.

The exhibition has had input from the V&A, Tate Images and Ashmolean Museum – all of which hold Samuel Palmer pieces in their collections; their collection curators have helped select which artworks to include in the exhibition.

World-renowned Palmer expert Colin Harrison, curator at the Ashmolean and author, has advised and guided on the exhibition and events.

Palmers’ work can be viewed by appointment at The V&A Prints & Drawings Study Room.

The exhibition will open at The Kaleidoscope Gallery in Sevenoaks on January 12 and run until March 12, before moving to Dartford, opening on March 16 and running until May 16.

Free events at The Kaleidoscope Gallery:
(Buckhurst Lane, Sevenoaks, TN13 1LQ)

Thursday 18th January
Artist Talk: Feral Practice And Paul Cheese
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Thursday 1st February
Artist Talk: Kit Boyd
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Wednesday 7th February
Curators Tour: Samuel Palmer: Visionary Landscapes
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Saturday 17th February (Half-term)
Family Day – Pop-Up Miniature Etching Studio
11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Friday 23rd February (Half-term)
Drawing Workshop: Victoria Threlfall
10:00 am – 1:00 pm

 

Free events at The Sir Peter Blake Gallery, Dartford:
(Dartford Central Library & Museum, Market Street, Dartford, DA1 1EU)

Saturday 13th April (Easter holidays)
Family Day – Pop-Up Miniature Etching Studio
11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Saturday 27th April
Curator’s Tour: Samuel Palmer: Visionary Landscapes
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Lullingstone Park
There is also a Walk, Talk And Draw with artist and Samuel Palmer expert, Victoria Threlfall on Friday 26th April from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at Lullingstone Country Park, with more events being planned for the Dartford tour.

Trail app
Plus, free self-led Palmer inspired walking trails available on the app can be enjoyed at any time, including Veterans and Lavendar, Palmer and Villages and Ridges and Valleys – details about the app can be found here.
https://darent-valley.org.uk/explore-the-darent-valley/samuel-palmer-trail/

All events can be found here – some require booking, but all are free:
https://darent-valley.org.uk/get-involved/events/

Picture caption: The work of Victorian artist, Samuel Palmer, is currently on display in Sevenoaks, Kent

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