Be Transported To 19th Century France With Breathtaking Immersive Digital Exhibition Empress Joséphine’s Garden

Empress Josephine’s Garden at ILA is a multi sensory exhibition inspired by Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and her connection to Australian flora and fauna. This exhibit reflects her love of beauty, refinement, and exotic plants. Known for her passion for roses and botanical collections, Josephine’s influence can still be felt in gardens around the world today.

From the floral elegance to the historical inspiration behind it, Empress Josephine’s Garden is a unique blend of nature and history combine with spectacular digital and visual effects. As part of the exhibition ILA are hosting a Mothers Day High Tea with a menu curated by Aurora’s Executive, Chef Robin Wagner on Sunday May 10.

ILA CEO Becc Bates explains how the exhibition was brought to ILA and what can be expected from the digital experience.

ILA has had many stunning digital experiences and the next is the Empress Josephines Garden. Can you tell us about how it came about to bring this exhibition to ILA?
We love working with leading creatives from around the world, and some of the best are here in Australia. The team at AGB Creative (who are behind the beautiful Empress Josephine’s Garden) has worked across the world on mind-blowing immersive experiences and they do so with such commitment to in-depth research, artistic integrity and impactful experience, so when we heard about their collaboration with the WA Maritime Museum in Fremantle on a fascinating story that has real connection with South Australia, we were excited and intrigued to work with them and bring it to ILA. We also discovered that much of the research behind this experience was undertaken right here by South Australian Professors of History, who are world authorities on the Baudin expedition that transported so much Australian wildlife back to France.

The digital experience debuted in the Western Australian Maritime Museum, what will be different seeing it at ILA?
ILA has permanent immersive LED technology that is completely unique – there is nothing quite like it in Australia. This means that the show presented at the Western Australian Maritime Museum has been converted from projections to full digital LED displays which intensifies the imagery and enhances the immersive experience.

Our team is inspired by the amazing creative work that we bring into our ILA spaces, and the story of Empress Josephine has given us such exquisite imagery to play with! Our ILA Bar is decked out with roses and Australian botanicals, and it makes for a beautiful garden party!

This is a multi-sensory immersive experience. What can audiences expect when they see this exhibition?
Before you enter the digital experience, take a wander through our gallery garden with a glass of Bellebonne bubbles, or some delicious treats from our bar (or both!). There may be a gentle mist, or you might notice the scent of Australian plants and florals and the strains of a string quartet. There’s a map that shows all the names that the Baudin expedition bestowed on the South Australian coastline, a life-sized portrait of Empress Josephine herself and you can flick through prints Pierre-Joseph Redouté, the renowned botanist and illustrator who recorded thousands of plants from around the world during the Empire period. Once you’re in the studio, the story surrounds you with stunning imagery and a compelling story of one of the most influential women of the time across, design, art, and of course botany and gardens.

At ILA, we love to blend art and technology with food and hospitality. Alongside the Josephine’s Garden exhibition, we are also presenting an Art Salon on Saturday 9 May. This three-course lunch from our award-winner Aurora Restaurant is held in our Aurora Lab, where guests are wrapped in 50m2 of LED screens featuring content inspired by the exhibition. Guests will hear from the creators of Josephine’s Garden as they discuss the research and creative development that went into developing the exhibition.

And… if you’re after something extra special for the important women in your life, book for our Mother’s Day High Tea service, with delectable goodies curated by the award-winning team at ILA’s Aurora restaurant.

The recent MANIFEST DESTINY was a success and now audiences can see another high-quality digital exhibition with EMPRESS JOSÉPHINE’S GARDEN, what is the process of finding these kinds of exhibitions and bringing a concept to life?
Each of our exhibitions and experiences has its own bespoke style and process. Our team works closely with artists and creatives to consider how we might make the most impactful experience in our spaces, how we might engage all our senses, and how we can transport our guests in a truly immersive way. Sometimes we are showcasing great artworks, sometimes we are experimenting with ideas and technology; sometimes we’re the conduit for bringing great things to Adelaide, other times we are bringing new stories to life or creating whole other worlds, combining cutting edge tech with design, texture and 3D elements.

The magic of ILA is in the way in which we combine art and technology, with food and hospitality through our restaurant Aurora.

What is the best part about working in Adelaide and ILA?
ILA is a pioneering organisation. There’s nothing else like it in Australia, and the team here are working at the frontier of experiential creativity, art and tech, and the blending of this with the incredible gastronomical artistry of our chefs in Aurora!

One of the real perks of working here is when our Executive Chef Robin Wagner brings something up to the office that he’s been developing in the kitchen. Just coming to work is truly a sensory experience!

Describe EMPRESS JOSÉPHINE’S GARDEN in three words?
Captivating. Informative. Luscious.

Interview by Anastasia Lambis

Showing only at ILA until 17 May 2026. Tickets HERE…