Google has always been somewhat artistic with their ever changing logo, but they really stepped it up with the introduction of this new project.
The Google Art Project was launched on February 1st, 2011 and it features virtual tours of 17 world famous museums such as the Palace of Versailles, the National Gallery (London, England) and the Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam, Netherlands). Google used its signature Street View technology to allow the public to visit the world’s finest museums without having to actually travel there. Of course, there are limitations of how far and which way you can navigate, but it provides an excellent idea of what the inside of the museum looks and feels like. Beyond this, Google Art Project also offers high resolution images of famous works, some over one gigapixel in size (over 1 billion pixels!).
Google took its original Street View technology and moved it inside the building. Not only is it extending its line, but it is also extending its brand. Street view already existed before, but it is now presented in a different form, you are able to see what’s inside. As well, Google was never really associated with fine arts or visual arts before, but showcasing these galleries completely changes that.
From the museums’ point of view, this is a brilliant marketing technique. Yes, many people are happy with just looking at these places and images through their computers, but for people like me, this really just makes me want to get on a plane and fly over there. In today’s world, with the changing cultural and technological factors, people (especially the younger generations) with their fast paced lives are becoming more tech-savvy and less interested in subjects such as art and history. Google found a way to bring back life into art and I really hope the project will be a success.
