A trip to an extraordinary art exhibit always constitutes a solid adventure, so let me take you to one of the sickest pop-up museums in southern California that definitely tops my list of contemporary favorites. Wonderspaces in San Diego is a short-term display of unique installations, most of which I tried to capture to the best of my ability so if you don't get the opportunity to visit this captivating space, here's your chance to experience the pieces vicariously through my mediocrely composed iPhone snapshots!
Pulse Portal |
| Photo Credit: Tina Nguyen |
Upon entering the site, you're greeted by a futuristic prismatic "portal" that resembles a dragonfly's wings. I'd say it's the perfect entry way to the museum as it sets you up for all the interactive, psychedelic pieces that you're about to encounter.
Neon Tunnel
To access the rest of the installations, you're directed to this neon tunnel plastered with systematically placed neon strips. It's undoubtedly more impressive when viewed from a distance ‑ otherwise, it's really just a bunch of glow-in-the-dark tapes.
Daydream V2
This work was one of my absolute favorites and I'm glad my friend Tina got to capture some pretty neat shots of my silhouettes against this immersive audiovisual piece. Looking at the screen up close and straight ahead was a trippy experience, to say the least. "Daydream" is quite an understatement because it really felt more like being hypnotized and transported to a different universe. If you're familiar with the show Black Mirror (10/10, would recommend), this room provides a similar trance-inducing atmosphere that makes you feel all sorts of sensations.
ADA
Perhaps the most interactive piece other than the virtual reality films is ADA, an "analog installation" that creates its own art on the walls as it floats and bounces around the room. It may be fun to toss around like a beach ball but the concept behind it is far more fascinating. Artist Karina Smigla-Bobinski drew inspiration from Ada Lovelace, a computer science pioneer, to create this exceptionally engaging "artwork with a soul" that merges technical and creative elements of art. It's a thoughtfully executed piece that plays on the concept of artificial intelligence, which I think is perfectly suited for this technology-driven, post-industrial society. To read more about Smigla-Bobinski's work, click here.
Sweet Spot
I'm sure it's not surprising that I spent the most time in this particular installation. As a social media influencer, I had to do it for the 'gram at some point and this was an ideal backdrop for a quick outfit-of-the-day. It reminds me of LACMA's Penetrable installation (the beloved yellow spaghetti), only much more delicate, vibrant, and harmonious.
You + Your Shadows
This rainbow room is another popular one among the millennial Instagrammers because of the oscillating four-dimensional shadows of varying saturated colors. This photo surely doesn't do it justice, but you get the gist. It's significantly more dynamic than Sweet Spot and sets a much deeper mood despite the pulsing representation of light and color in motion.
The Last Word
The Last Word is a poignant installation that allows you to express your vulnerabilities to strangers by writing your own unfinished business. According to the description of the artwork, it intends to offer a "private moment to recapture what was never uttered," which I think is such a moving idea that addresses what humanity truly needs in this day and age ‑ the freedom to be vulnerable. I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't get to draft my own message or even uncover others' secrets, but if I ever get another chance to come back, I'll be sure to write something to my heart's content.
On Tilt
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