It may be winter outside, but it's always summer 1987 at Hudson Yards.
There are thousands of thrill seekers and art lovers. flock to Luna Luna — After decades of being lost to history, the world's first art amusement park has finally made its way to the Big Apple.
And while visitors can no longer ride the hand-painted attractions by the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring and Salvador Dali, immersive exhibits offer a chance to travel back in time, with everyone Encourages you to embrace your inner child.
“This is one of the few projects I can think of that can truly impact such a wide range of people,” Michael Goldberg, chief entertainment officer of Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy, told the Post. spoke.
“If you're interested in art history and know everything there is to know about these artists, or if you don't know anything about any of them, there's nothing you'll find interesting or interesting about this project.” I guarantee you there will be.” It's great to see people come into this space and be truly moved by the story told by the artwork. ”
For Goldberg, it wasn't a question of if Luna Luna would be brought to New York City, but when.
This sprawling amusement park had been holed up in a warehouse in Texas since 1987, after enjoying just one pioneering summer in Hamburg, Germany.
Conceived by Austrian artist Andre Heller, Luna Luna features real-life carnival attractions and some of the most iconic features of the time, including a merry-go-round made of Haring's iconic stick figures and a Ferris wheel with details from a Basquiat painting. It was a “fantasy exposition'' that brought together artists from all over the world.
Luckily, the pieces were stored in 44 shipping containers and remained largely untouched until 2022, when a team that included Goldberg and rapper Drake rescued them.
In its new form, Luna Luna is more of an immersive museum than an amusement park. Despite the ride being in perfect condition, no visitors are allowed to take it for a spin.
But that doesn't mean the carnival experience is lost.
The ride continues to circle as a carny (an alien-like costumed character) races around the studio, encouraging visitors to dance to songs by Andre 3000, David Byrne, Jamie XX and more.
Guests are invited to explore classic funhouse experience exhibits using glass and mirrors, including Roy Lichtenstein's “Pavilion” and Salvador Dali's “Dalidom,” respectively. In one corner is Patrick Reynaud's “Geometric Sculpture Playground,” where the only rules for playing with giant foam structures are to have fun and not hurt others.
There are also chapels where all marriages are legal. This small church has seen pet lovers marry their dogs, photographers with their cameras, and a groundbreaking same-sex wedding for the '80s.
Last week, the childhood sweethearts tied the knot at Heller's Dream Station & Wedding Chapel in what they thought would be an average date night at a museum.
“We just saw it and thought we have to do it. We've been wanting to do this since eighth grade, so can we get married today!” Fordham University student says Rory Dwyer (19).
The wedding ceremony included wearing a stuffed bagel on one's head and throwing a ring toss at the students before the marriage license was granted, but the officiant said the marriage license was legally binding. I assured him that there was no.
“They were so silly about it, and they made it so much fun,” said his new wife, Jill Kavanaugh, 19, who was visiting Dwyer from Buffalo.
Goldberg explained that whimsy runs through the exhibit, but said many of the art installations are very serious pieces.
For example, “Fucking Chancellor's Office” appears at first glance to be nothing more than two pillars with a pile of shit piled on top of them, but it's actually a targeted mockery of Nazi Germany. In the original Luna Luna, artist Daniel Spoeri, whose father was killed in the Holocaust, erected a pillar in front of a replica of a Nazi cathedral, essentially turning it into a toilet.
Almost immediately preceding the artwork for this statement is “Palace of the Winds,'' by Austrian political cartoonist Manfred Deix, which focuses on individuals who create so-called music by passing gas. The piece is simply meant to make visitors “laugh with glee and discomfort.”
“It's cool and very eclectic,” said Alison, 27, who stopped by the exhibition with her parents between a play and dinner. “It's art – and art is always kind of weird.” and joked that Luna Luna is the perfect place to go for mushrooms.
Her father, Andrew, had little expectations for the experience, but after reading about its history, he became interested in seeing the site.
“It's absolutely stunning, especially the Dalidom,” Andrew, 69, said, pointing to a mirrored geodesic dome meant to induce spatial hallucinations.
“It's a funhouse mecca, because when you stand in the middle of it, you see yourself reflected in all the mirrors. It's a surprising, self-centered, Dali-esque piece of work in a way.”
Dalidom was also a favorite for 23-year-old Mona Wang, who was keen to get as close and personal to the works as possible.
“It's a really nice place. I know a lot of the artists and it's really fun to see them,” said Wang, who studies art history at New York University.
Fellow art student Tony Chan, 26, shared similar thoughts, citing Basquiat's Ferris Wheel as the most impressive work in existence.
But Zhang had one complaint about the whole experience.
“I thought I'd find something to ride.”
