The Shed
The current exhibition at The Shed in New York, dedicated to Luna Luna, is a true journey into the imagination, where art and leisure meet to offer a unique immersive experience. Luna Luna was a brief, ephemeral amusement park that opened in Hamburg in 1987. It made a lasting impression with its bold fusion of carnival culture and contemporary art (and with artists who would go on to become true stars). Created by artist and director André Heller, in collaboration with artists such as Sonia Delaunay, Salvador Dalí, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Keith Haring, the park was a kind of creative laboratory where art, performance, and entertainment merged in a playful and surreal setting.
This exhibition at The Shed allows visitors to immerse themselves in the magical world of Luna Luna by recreating several of its iconic attractions within an atmosphere that is both nostalgic and avant-garde. Through interactive installations, sculptures, videos, and archives, the exhibition invites viewers to rediscover this mythical place that existed for only a few months. It is a vibrant tribute to the park’s creative spirit, which was a true meeting point between contemporary art and the popular culture of its time.
What makes this exhibition exceptional is the way it captures the essence of Luna Luna: a blend of visual arts, performance, and architecture in a space where the imagination was free to express itself without constraint. Heller’s project broke traditional boundaries between art and entertainment by inviting famous artists from various backgrounds to contribute to the park’s experience.
The exhibition also allows visitors to relive the park’s unique atmosphere by displaying works that were both playful attractions and ambitious artistic creations. For example, Basquiat’s drawings, Keith Haring’s works, and Dalí’s surreal installations were integrated into the rides and attractions, transforming the park experience into a sort of sensory laboratory. Beyond a simple retrospective, the exhibition pays homage to this exceptional collaboration between art and leisure, which was bold for its time.
