Phaidon Chronicles the Legacy of Luna Luna in New Book
A look back at the very first art amusement park.
In lieu of recent news that Drake emerged as a surprise patron for the long-defunct Luna Luna amusement park, Phaidon will chronicle the unique art festival in a new book releasing early next year.
Back in the 1980s, Austrian artist André Heller conceived an ambitious project that saw him travel the world convincing his favorite artists to create fully functional one-of-a-kind artworks such as rides, interactive sculptures, games, performances, and music. Keith Haring, David Hockney, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Roy Lichtenstein and Salvador Dalí were some of the many legends of art history who partook in this endeavor, which opened to the public once in Hamburg in 1987.
Heller had plans to tour the park around the globe, but a series of financial and legal setbacks nixed the plans and shelved much of these artworks out of public memory for the past 35 years. “When I first heard about Luna Luna I was blown away,” said Drake in a past statement. “It’s such a unique and special way to experience art. This is a big idea and opportunity that centers around what we love most: bringing people together.”
The works in Luna Luna are undergoing restoration and is set to go on view in North America next fall. A global tour is slated to follow in 2024. As for the Phaidon book, Luna Luna : The Art Amusement Park is a hardcover title that spans 336 pages, including 350 illustrations. The book is available to preorder for $50 USD and will start shipping on February 15, 2023.
Elsewhere, Gagosian and Jeffrey Deitch present 100 Years Collaborative Exhibition.
