Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy is on view at The Shed through January 5.
By Elazar Abrahams
Step into Luna Luna, and you’re stepping into a time capsule of creative brilliance. On display at The Shed in Hudson Yards, this long-lost 1980s art carnival has been rediscovered and restored for a modern audience. Featuring installations by luminaries like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein, and David Hockney, Luna Luna is as much about the art as it is about the story of its miraculous revival.
Luna Luna was a traveling carnival curated by Austrian artist André Heller in 1987. The project enlisted some of the era’s most iconic creatives to design carnival rides and attractions, blending fine art with whimsical amusement park fun. After its initial run in Hamburg, Germany, the collection disappeared and was largely forgotten — until it was rediscovered in a storage locker in Texas just a few years ago and brought back to life. That backstory alone adds a layer of fascination to the experience, setting the stage for an exhibition that feels almost mythical.
The experience here is a visual feast. Visitors are greeted by costumed performers on stilts, workers with balloons floating overhead, and a layout that tries its best to evoke the lively energy of the original German carnival grounds. Walking through, you’re face-to-face with Haring’s playful carousel, Basquiat’s towering ferris wheel, and Lichtenstein’s boldly colored glass labyrinth. The awesomeness of what’s on display is undeniable, and for fans of these artists, it feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see their lost work in such an unexpected context.
Yet, for all its spectacle, Luna Luna leaves a touch of disappointment. The rides, once functional, are now static art pieces. You can admire them, but you can’t interact with them. That sense of untouchability detracts from the carnival spirit, making the experience feel more like a high-concept art exhibition than the playful wonderland it once was. With ticket prices that begin at $50, some may feel that the balance between nostalgia and engagement skews a bit too far toward the former.
Still, Luna Luna is worth visiting for the historical significance of what’s on display. It’s a reminder of a time when art pushed boundaries. While you may leave wishing you could hop on Haring’s carousel, the journey through this forgotten treasure trove is an adventure in itself.
For fans of the featured artists and anyone curious about the intersection of art and entertainment, Luna Luna is an essential stop. Just don’t expect to leave with carnival prizes in hand — this is a show meant for looking, not touching.
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