Luna Luna, the world’s first art amusement park, has opened in Los Angeles. The attraction has gone on view for the first time since 1987.
The new exhibition, titled Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy, is a restoration of the original Luna Luna site, which opened in Hamburg, Germany for just seven weeks in 1987.
The brainchild of Austrian artist Andé Heller, Luna Luna included rides, games and other fairground attractions designed by artists including Salvador Dalí, Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Hockney, Keith Haring and Roy Lichtenstein.
“By a twist of fate, the park’s treasures were soon sealed in 44 shipping containers and forgotten in Texas – until now,” says the Luna Luna website.
“Open now, Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy unravels the tale of the most fantastical fairground the world has ever known: a spectacular showcase you must see to believe.”
Canadian rapper Drake invested $100 million to restore the park through his Dreamcrew company. “When I first heard about Luna Luna I was blown away,” he said in a previous statement.
“It’s such a unique and special way to experience art,” he added. “This is a big idea and opportunity that centres around what we love most: bringing people together.”
Original attractions included a carousel by Keith Haring, Basquiat’s Ferris wheel, and a geometric forest pavilion by David Hockney. These have been “restored to their former glory” alongside more carnival games, rides and installations.
Highlights include Christian Ludwig’s boat ride, Georg Baselitz’s ‘Shadow Room’, another carousel by Arik Brauer, Salvador Dalí’s ‘Dalídom’ mirrored pavilion, Jörg Immendorff’s shooting gallery game, and Kenny Scharf’s swing ride.
Lumi Tan, the project’s curatorial director, told CBS News: “What makes Luna Luna so special is these marquee names that were locked away in this art-historical secret.”
She added: “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.”
Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy is on display in Los Angeles through spring 2024.
Images courtesy of Luna Luna
