Aesthetic Experience of Artworks in Virtual Reality: The Role of Openness to Experience, Telepresence, and Authenticity

Social distancing implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has made it very difficult for people to enjoy and appreciate works of art the way we used to. In order to overcome these situational limitations, many artistic event organizers are paying attention to virtual reality technology. The technology allows potential visitors to appreciate artworks in realistic settings without visiting art galleries, museums, or performance halls in real life. This study shows that openness to experience of persons appreciating artworks has a positive effect on the perceived telepresence and authenticity of artworks presented using virtual reality technology. This study further shows that this improved telepresence and authenticity enhance overall aesthetic experience. Through two experiments, we demonstrate that openness to experience, an individual trait variable, acts as a moderating factor influencing aesthetic experience, and the path from perceived telepresence to authenticity mediates the effect of appreciating art through virtual reality on aesthetic experience. By providing a better understanding of the psychological process underlying the effect of appreciating art using virtual reality on aesthetic experience, this study contributes to the fields intersecting art and technology.