reviving luna luna: world's first amusement park with works by haring & basquiat lands in LA

Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy travels to Los Angeles

Remember Luna Luna, the world’s first traveling art carnival? It’s currently on its way to Los Angeles, opening its doors in December 2023. Titled ‘Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy,’ this dreamy fair, which is described as the world’s first amusement park and lost since 1978, invites guests into the world of rediscovered one-of-a-kind public artworks. Among the highlights are a Ferris wheel crafted by Jean-Michel Basquiat, a carousel designed by Keith Haring, and immersive pavilions created by David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein, and Salvador Dalí, each with fascinating stories to tell. The Los Angeles edition promises to enchant visitors with its collection of striking art pieces and rides, including Kenny Scharf’s, all housed within a sprawling 60,000 sqft warehouse complex.

aerial view of Luna Luna in Moorweide park. Hamburg, Germany, 1987 | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz courtesy Luna Luna, LLC (head image: Kenny Scharf, painted chair swing ride. Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany, 1987 | photo: ©Sabina Sarnitz. courtesy Luna Luna, LLC)

the story of luna luna, the forgotten fantastical fair

Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy (find more here) provides a modern audience with an immersive encounter with the recently rediscovered Luna Luna. Conceived by the Austrian showman, polymath, and artist André Heller, Luna Luna made its debut in Hamburg, Germany, in the summer of 1987. Blurring the lines between an amusement park and an art museum, it showcased rides, attractions, interactive installations, games, and performances crafted by over 30 acclaimed artists, including Sonia Delaunay, Salvador Dalí, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, David Hockney, Rebecca Horn, and Roy Lichtenstein. It was a radical and unprecedented collaboration of artists from diverse art movements such as Abstract Expressionism, Art Brut, Dada, Fluxus, Neo-Expressionism, Nouveau Réalisme, Pop Art, Surrealism, and Viennese Actionism.

Originally slated for a global tour, Luna Luna faced legal entanglements and storage confinement following a change of ownership after its Hamburg debut. The artworks, featuring a full-size Ferris wheel by Basquiat, a carousel by Haring, and the Enchanted Tree pavilion by Hockney, remained hidden for over three decades, causing Luna Luna to inexplicably fade into obscurity. In early 2022, a team led by rap idol Drake’s unconventional entertainment company, DreamCrew, acquired the entire contents of the original presentation. They transported it to a Los Angeles warehouse, where a team of experts, led by Rosa Lowinger for conservation and Joel Searles for reassembly, meticulously reconstructed the works.

Kenny Scharf, painted chair swing ride. Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany, 1987 | photo: ©Sabina Sarnitz. courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

experience rides by david hocney, salvador Dalí and more

The show weaves together history and spectacle, offering both entertainment and education. The exhibition showcases artist-conceived rides and attractions, multimedia displays featuring archival materials delving into Luna Luna’s context and inspiration, and glimpses into the intricate process of reassembling the works. Visitors are able to access David Hockney’s Enchanted Tree and Salvador Dalí’s Dalídom. In addition, André Heller’s Wedding Chapel allows guests to wed anyone or anything of their choosing. In a nod to the original Luna Luna’s spirit, wandering performers and immersive music enhance the visitor experience.

visitors ride Keith Haring’s painted carousel. Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany,1987 © Keith Haring Foundation/licensed by Artestar, New York | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

a performer entertains visitors in front of Kenny Scharf’s painted chair swing ride. Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany,1987 © Keith Haring Foundation/licensed by Artestar, New York | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

Sonia Delaunay, entrance archway and Luna Luna sign. Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany, 1987. | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz. Courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

visitors ride Keith Haring’s painted carousel. Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany, 1987. © Keith Haring Foundation/licensed by Artestar, New York | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

visitors in line for Jean-Michel Basquait’s painted Ferris wheel. Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany 1987. © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/licensed by Artestar, New York | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

fairground view of Luna Luna. Hamburg, Germany, 1987 | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz. courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

Performers in Front of a Keith Haring Tarp. Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany, 1987. © Keith Haring Foundation/licensed by Artestar, New York | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

Keith Haring paints his carousel. © Keith Haring Foundation/licensed by Artestar, New York | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

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Jean-Michel Basquiat painted Ferris wheel. Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany, 1987. © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat/licensed by Artestar, New York. Photo: © Sabina Sarnitz. Courtesy Luna Luna, LLC.

Arik Brauer, Carousel. Luna Luna. Hamburg, Germany, 1987 | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz. courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

André Heller, Dream Station. Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany, 1987. Photo: © Sabina Sarnitz. Courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

Keith Haring painted carousel. Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany, 1987. © Keith Haring Foundation/licensed by Artestar, New York | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz. Courtesy Luna Luna, LLC.

Salvador Dalí, Dalídom. Luna Luna. Hamburg, Germany, 1987 | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz. courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

visitors on Kenny Scharf’s painted chair swing ride. Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany, 1987 | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

vsitors enter the Luna Luna gates. Luna Luna, Hamburg, Germany,1987 © Keith Haring Foundation/licensed by Artestar, New York | photo: © Sabina Sarnitz courtesy Luna Luna, LLC

project info: 

name: Luna Luna Forgotten Fantasy
location: Ace Mission Studios, Los Angeles