Interludes

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Seemingly from the ashes, LUNA LUNA once again brings the fun and whimsy of art to the masses

• By drediman
• December 4, 2024
• No Comments

This past weekend at The Shed in Hudson Yards, I basked in the wonders of Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy. Having proven to be a big hit in Los Angeles earlier this year, the blockbuster exhibit has arrived in New York in just in time to capitalize on the holiday crowds (the exhibit continues through January 5) — and is poised to repeat its success on the Atlantic coast. The brainchild of visionary impresario André Heller, Luna Luna was originally seen in Germany in 1987, and it was arguably one of the most audacious projects the art world had seen — a full scale amusement park featuring rides and attractions designed by some of the world’s leading contemporary visual artists. Sadly, Heller’s ambitious plans to subsequently tour the park fell through, and the project was abandoned and all but forgotten.

Until now, that is. For the current exhibit, about half of Luna Luna‘s rides and attractions have been meticulously and lovingly re-assembled from scraps that have laid dormant in storage containers for 35 years. With its soaring sense of scale, The Shed’s McCourt space is the ideal venue for such a large-scale endeavor. The intelligently laid out experience begins with a presentation of Luna Luna‘s history and the background — its inspiration, its creation, and its legacy. The exhibit then opens up into an impressively immersive facsimile of the original park — complete with the distinctive spectacle of a carnival environment. Although you won’t be able to board any of the rides (e.g., Kenny Scarf’s chair swing ride, Keith Haring and Arik Brauer’s respective carousels, and Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Ferris wheel), there are numerous activities and experiences that allow ticket buyers to interact with art in unique and fun ways, from Roy Lichtenstein’s plexiglass maze, to David Hockney’s haunted Enchanted Tree, to Salvador Dali’s disorienting mirror dome. You’ll even get the chance to get married — albeit unconventionally — at Heller’s own creation, a quirky Wedding Chapel. At the conclusion of the experience, participants are invited to ascend to a mezzanine perch, where one can enjoy a spectacular overlook of Luna Luna, as well as imbibe at The Butterfly Bar.

Suffice to say, Luna Luna has immense commercial appeal, and its rise from the ashes will likely be a draw for both art lovers and families alike. The Instagram-friendly experience also borrows from immersive theater techniques. As such, the experience is at its most effective when the various spaces are activated by live performers (many of whom are garbed in fanciful costumes or operate whimsical puppets). The experience culminates in the spectral activation of the entire park, thrillingly set to an exuberant Philip Glass soundtrack (dance-goers will recognize the music as the score to Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room). A small tip if you go — although there are numerous tiers of admission, there’s no need to shell out the big bucks — you’ll do just fine with the basic standard level.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

LUNA LUNA
Art Installation
The Shed
Approximately 1 hour
Through January 5