In the heart of downtown Los Angeles, a creative resurrection is taking place inside a warehouse, as Luna Luna, the avant-garde amusement park that captivated the art world in the late 20th century, is reborn after nearly four decades of obscurity. Hollywood loves a sequel, and this one features some of the biggest names in contemporary art, including Keith Haring, Salvador Dalí, Arik Brauer, Sonia Delaunay, Kenny Scharf, and David Hockney.
The saga began in the 1970s when André Heller, a visionary, persuaded renowned artists to design Luna Luna, an experimental amusement park in Hamburg, Germany. The kaleidoscope of creativity opened its doors in 1987, offering visitors not just a visual feast but an interactive playground. Haring crafted a whimsical carousel, Hockney erected an enchanting cylindrical forest pavilion, and Dalí contributed a mirrored funhouse within a geodesic dome.
Approximately 300,000 people experienced Luna Luna during its seven-week run, but the park seemingly vanished from memory until Michael Goldberg, a New York creative director, stumbled upon an article about the forgotten masterpiece. Intrigued, he reached out to Heller, who recounted Luna Luna’s creation and his vision for global expansion.
Goldberg’s determination to resurrect Luna Luna gained a powerful ally in mega-rapper and art enthusiast Drake. Through his company, Dreamcrew, Drake invested in the purchase of the 44 shipping containers that held Luna Luna’s treasures, sight unseen. Transported to Los Angeles in January 2022, the containers presented an exhilarating challenge for Joel Searles’ team, who embarked on the meticulous task of restoring each masterpiece without the aid of instructions or manuals.
“It was very fun,” Searles remarked. “We knew it was a Haring, and you’re unwrapping it like a present. It was exciting!” Luna Tan, the project’s curatorial director, emphasized the uniqueness of Luna Luna, stating, “What makes Luna Luna so special is these marquee names that were locked away in this art-historical secret.”
One of the few living artists represented in Luna Luna is German artist Monica GilSing, who designed the captivating banners she calls “wind images.” Reflecting on the park, GilSing expressed, “It felt like going into a totally new art world. Clowns and artists talked to everybody. So, the interaction was immediately there. You could feel that all the visitors were so happy.” For GilSing, the restoration of Luna Luna provides “a new insight into this magical world.”
However, the decades that passed have turned each artwork into a valuable artifact, preventing visitors from riding these masterpieces. Yet, they will be allowed to walk through some pieces, offering an immersive experience that defies the traditional boundaries of the art world.
Luna Tan summed up Luna Luna’s essence, stating, “In art sometimes, there’s a shying-away of spectacle, like, it’s supposed to be serious and very intellectual and not so much experiential. At Luna Luna, it was the complete opposite.” As Luna Luna rises from the shadows of history, it promises not only to revive the forgotten legacy of these artistic giants but also to redefine the intersection of art, play, and spectacle for a new generation.
