Luna Luna, billed as “the world’s first art theme park” and believed lost since 1987, has been revived in Los Angeles. The park’s artist-designed rides and installations, long forgotten in 44 shipping containers in Texas, come together in a large interactive exhibit titled “Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy,” housed in a 60,000-square-foot warehouse on Los Angeles’ east side. It offers a rare opportunity for visitors to experience theme park rides designed by 15 internationally renowned artists, including Sonia Delaunay, Salvador Dalí and Keith Haring.
Luna Luna originally took place in Hamburg, Germany in 1987. The amusement park was supposed to travel to San Diego after its debut, but due to internal disagreements and a battle of litigation, the park was defunct. The revival is led by New York-based creative director Michael Goldberg, who recovered the lost Luna Luna with the help of Drake, whose company Dreamcrew contributed an undisclosed amount to buy the containers in 2022.
The exhibition is divided into two sections that are connected by a majestic arch designed by Delaunay. The first room shows Kenny Scharf’s chair swing, David Hockney’s enchanted tree, and Haring’s colorful carousel. It also houses that of Manfred Deix Palace of the Winds and the carousel of Arik Brauer.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Ferris wheel. Set to music by jazz legend Miles Davis, this vintage wheel from 1933 carries the unique distinction of being painted by Viennese artisans, who meticulously followed Basquiat’s designs.
