its not just that they are physical objects. They are physical objects in a physical space in which you are a part. Yes you can "walk around" in VR but that isn

its not just that they are physical objects. They are physical objects in a physical space in which you are a part. Yes you can "walk around" in VR but that isn't remotely the same as walking around in real life. Beyond that, there is so much context--physical, cultural, and intellectual--going on when you walk into a gallery and look at art. You lose all of that when looking at digital slides, no matter the quality.