Netflix and Chill? More like Artworkx and Thrill!

Use your screen time to get cultured!

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching season after season of trashy TV shows on Netflix, whilst slothing on the couch in a pair of sweat pants and a bag of potato chips in hand. But there are times when indulging in arts and culture can be quite therapeutic for our minds and souls. Arts and culture are ingrained deep in the world’s history and is the fabric to our society, evolving our consciousness. It can create meaning and clarity whilst enriching our emotional needs. Be fascinated by what the past has to offer and in awe of the creativity that us as human beings have achieved… All in the comfort of your own home! In this modern age, there are a wide range of art galleries and museums that offer virtual tours - No line ups, no crowds and viewing at your own leisure.

Here are a few of my favourites (just click on the heading):

The Louvre – Paris, FRANCE

I was lucky enough to travel to Paris and visit one of the word’s largest museums, The Lourve. I spent the whole day there and still did not have time to see every piece. They were one of the first museums to close during the pandemic, but you don’t need to miss out. Check out the VR of the Mona Lisa, or a few classic pieces from Michelangelo, architecture of moats and Egyptian antiquities on display.

The Vatican - The Vatican City, ITALY

It was 2017 and I was on Contiki tour through Europe with my newly wedded husband, during the scorching summer, at peak tourism time. The line up to get in took over an hour and a half (that was with express entry) and it was so jam-packed, everyone was touching shoulders and forced to move along in quite a quick manner. Despite this, the Vatican is one of my most treasured viewing memories. The virtual tour allows you to see much more detail than you would in real life.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History – Washington D.C., USA

On my wish list, and something close to my heart is the philosophy of this museum which is to 'promote understanding of the natural world and our place in it….as we all work to shape a sustainable world’. How fascinating is that? There are mammals, insect zoos and dinosaur halls to explore.

Rijksmuseum – Amsterdam, NETHERLANDS

Amsterdam is just a cool place with cool people, and their museum is no different. The museum collection is impressive and vast with their most famous piece ‘The Nightwatch’ by Rembrandt… which just like the Mona Lisa is a lot smaller than what I had envisioned prior to visiting. The website and Rijksmuseum’s virtual tours and close up of arts works is exquisite with exceptional detail, this by far is the best virtual tour of a museum I have seen so far.

MOD. – Adelaide, AUSTRALIA

Are you missing being on the UniSA campus? I know I am ☹. Don’t forget UniSA’s very own museum located on the City West Campus also do their own virtual tours, so it’s kind of like being back on campus again, right? They have a special online exhibition specifically made for everyone during these strange times called “Life Interrupted’.

by Trang (SAIBT/CELUSA Student and Academic Services Coordinator)