It’s a tale that’s almost mythical. In 1987, an amusement park populated by rides and attractions created by the era’s leading artists landed in Hamburg, Germany, the brainchild of Austrian artist André Heller. There was an entrance archway designed by Sonia Delaunay, a carousel painted by Keith Haring, and to top it all off, a Ferris wheel dreamed up by Jean-Michel Basquiat. Dubbed Luna Luna, the fair only had a limited engagement in Germany, before its 30 pavilions were packed up and stashed in storage—left forgotten for nearly four decades.
Enter Drake. Last year, the rapper’s entertainment company, DreamCrew, along with partners Michael Goldberg of Something Special Studios, Daniel McClean, and Justin Wills, announced plans to resurrect the amusement park, investing a reported $100 million. And lo, it has come to pass: “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy” has opened in a 60,000-square-feet warehouse in Los Angeles, offering a recreation of the fantastical fairground with the original rides.
Jean Michel-Basquiat’s painted Ferris wheel at Luna Luna in Hamburg, Germany, 1987. Photo: Sabina Sarnitz.
Patrons lining up outside Roy Lichtenstein’s Luna Luna Pavilion at Luna Luna in Hamburg, Germany, 1987. Photo: Sabina Sarnitz.
“What makes Luna Luna so special is these marquee names that were locked away in this art-historical secret,” Lumi Tan, the project’s curatorial director, told CBS News. “André Heller saw it as breaking down the boundaries between artists of different generations and disciplines. You have Keith Haring, young Pop artist, but then you also have Roy Lichtenstein, one of the founders of Pop art.”
The venue is divided into two spaces, conjoined by Delauney’s geometrically painted arch, adorned by the original Luna Luna sign. The first area opens up with David Hockney’s cylindrical forest pavilion, Kenny Scharf’s polychromatic chair swing ride, and Heller’s inflatable structure, Dream Station. In the second space is a view of Basquiat’s Ferris wheel, as well as works by Joseph Beuys, Jim Whiting, and Monika GilSing.
Installation view of “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy,” featuring Keith Haring’s painted carousel and murals. Photo: Jeff McLane.
A number of these pavilions are accompanied by music. Salvador Dalí’s mirrored fun house, for example, is backed by a soundscape of Gregorian chants by Blue Chip Orchestra, while Roy Lichtenstein’s glass labyrinth is soundtracked by Philip Glass’s minimalist notes. Performers wandering the floor will also interact with visitors, adding to the carnival-esque vibe.
Alas, due to the delicate condition of these works, not all of them can be ridden, though they remain operational. Visitors, however, are invited to walk through and around the attractions.
Luna Luna art technicians assemble Arik Brauer’s Carousel at the Luna Luna warehouse, Los Angeles. Photo courtesy Luna Luna, LLC.
This new iteration of Luna Luna was more than a year in the making. After the works were transported from a storage facility in rural Texas to Los Angeles, a conservation team led by Rosa Lowinger and Joel Searles commenced unboxing and restoring the attractions. “It was very fun,” Searles said about cracking open the containers for the first time in decades. “We knew it was a Haring and you’re unwrapping it like a present.”
The revived fair will also include an exhibition of archival photos, videos, and other ephemera that trace Luna Luna’s journey from its original run to its recent assembly.
In-progress assembly of Kenny Scharf’s painted chair swing ride at the Luna Luna warehouse, Los Angeles. Photo courtesy Luna Luna, LLC.
Back in the 1980s, Heller conceived of the original Luna Luna as a way to bring “art… to those who might not ordinarily seek it out in more predictable settings,” he said in a statement (Heller is not involved with the new project). It’s a prescient vision now fulfilled and expanded on by the abundance of Instagram-friendly, immersive art offerings—which the new Luna Luna now joins.
And it’s only just getting started, according to Anthony Gonzales of the DreamCrew. “‘Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy’ is the first instalment,” he said in a statement, “of what will be a long-term project with a multifaceted approach exploring the world of art and its intersection with today’s modern world.”
See more images from the exhibition below.
A performer in front of Sonia Delauney’s entrance archway at “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy.” Photo: Sinna Nasseri.
Installation view of “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy,” featuring Kenny Scharf’s painted chair swing ride. Photo: Joshua White.
Installation view of “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy,” featuring Keith Haring’s painted carousel and David Hockney’s Enchanted Tree. Photo: Jeff McLane.
Installation view of “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy,” featuring Salvador Dalí’s Dalidom. Photo: Joshua White.
Installation view of “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy,” featuring Kenny Scharf’s painted swing chair ride and surrounding sculptures. Photo: Joshua White.
A couple being “wed” at André Heller’s Wedding Chapel at “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy.” Photo: Sinna Nasseri.
Performers alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat’s painted Ferris wheel at “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy.” Photo: Sarah Mathison.
“Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy” is on view at 1601 E 6th Street, Los Angeles, California, through Spring 2024.
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