Wonderspaces is an interactive, pop-up art installation and it is hosted in San Diego during the Summer for it's second time. This year, Wonderspaces is located in Downtown San Diego near Embarcadero and the International Cruise Ship Terminal. I did not visit Wonderspaces last year which was even more of a reason why I wanted to go this year. So, this Summer, I went to Wonderspaces twice.
My Madame Duo, Lily Mae Pido, was able and interested in going to Wonderspaces with me this year. Since it was my first visit to Wonderspaces, I did not know what to expect, but I had an open-minded perspective and I was eager to learn something new. Lily and I managed to view all of the artwork pieces and participate in both of the virtual reality experiences. Throughout my experience at Wonderspaces, I noticed the simplicity in the overall layout of the installation and how easy it was to walk around to see the different artwork pieces. Also, I realized there were a good handful of warning signs informing attendees that particular artworks on display can possibly cause epilepsy seizures. Although Lily and I are not diagnosed with any type of epilepsy, we did not spend a lot of time viewing the particular artwork pieces that could possibly can an epilepsy seizure because the flashing lights were tripping out the both of us to the point where we had mild headaches.
On my second visit to Wonderspaces, I went with one of my best friends, Justin Raquidan. Since this was Justin's first time going to Wonderspaces this season, I did not want to ruin the experience by telling him about the art pieces. Instead, I approached this experience with a tabula rasa (blank slate) mentality. In fact, on my second visit, I took initiative in engaging a conversation with the employees by asking them what they know about the particular artwork they were monitoring and gaining an insight of their interpretation of the artwork. Justin and I also utilized the knowledge we gained from taking AP Art History (APAH) in high school and started to analyze and share our interpretations of each artwork. Justin and I consistently asked one another,
"What do you think of this piece? What do you think is the purpose of this piece? What do you think is the deeper meaning behind this piece? How does it make you feel?"
It was an interesting experience talking to Justin in depth about the different artwork on display and learning how he interprets the artwork.
Out of the 15 artwork pieces, my favorites are Dinner Party, Into the Breath by Stefano Ogliari Badessi, and Submergence by Squidsoup. First, Dinner Party was a 360 degree virtual reality experience illustrating the story of Betty and Barney Hill whom reported the first nationally known UFO abduction case in America. What I like about Dinner Party was the experience of sitting in a communal space that mimics the layout of a dinner party in a dining room and the moment I put on the virtual reality headset, I felt separated from everyone as if I was in my own world. When I took off my virtual reality headset, it was interesting to see the people around me with their bodies so still, but their heads moving around. Into the Breath by Stefano Ogilari Badessi is another one of my favorite artwork at this season's Wonderspaces because I find it intriguing how Badessi was able to use Chinese plastic bags and shipping tape to create a space with a calming atmosphere. I loved the golden hues, how the light peeked in through the transparent spots, and how peaceful I felt by simply sitting inside the space. Lastly, Submergence by Squidsoup is another one of my favorite artwork from Wonderspaces because I love that it was a walk-through experience where I felt submerged in darkness and was surrounded by lights that lit up in different colors and increased in tension until it completely turned off.
I do not think Wonderspaces was worth the $20.50 entrance fee and the additional costs of parking because most of the artwork was not interactive and if time was not utilized to interpret the artwork, take pictures, or talk to the employees, it would have easily taken 15 - 20 minutes to walk around and see everything (excluding the virtual reality experiences). In fact, some of the artwork seemed to be more of a display for people to take photographs and post them on social media. At Wonderspaces, the only way to get further information about any of the artwork was by asking the employees, but I would have loved to receive an e-brochure or a printed one to get a better idea of the context of the artwork. I also do not think Wonderspaces was worth $20.50 because many of the artwork could cause epilepsy seizures. Although there were physical warning signs at the entrance of particular artwork, it was not a pleasurable moment sitting or standing in one of the rooms and getting a headache from the lights. Overall, I enjoyed my first experience at Wonderspaces, interpreting the artwork, spending quality time with friends, and taking photographs, but I am unsure yet if I would want to go again next year if it is hosted in San Diego.
