Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel frescoes digitally reproduced at New York's Oculus

The exhibition 'Up Close: Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel' at the Oculus in New York presents 34 high-definition digital reproductions of Michelangelo's frescoes from the Vatican's Sistine Chapel. Curated by art historian Lynn Catterson, the show allows visitors to view details of the frescoes up close, including the 'Creation of Adam' and 'Last Judgment' at near-natural scale. The reproductions, printed on canvas using ultra-high-resolution digital photography, are displayed at eye level in the Oculus's vast atrium, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava. The exhibition addresses the challenge of viewing the original frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, where the 'Last Judgment' is positioned opposite the entrance, limiting viewing time. The digital versions also 'cover' small cracks in the original plaster. The Oculus, part of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, has hosted cultural events since its inauguration, despite initial criticism comparing its design to a turkey carcass.