Singer Drake resurrects Luna Luna, the ‘art amusement park’ featuring Dali, Basquiat, Hockney, now on display in Los Angeles

'Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy' is a unique amalgamation of art and amusement, a psychedelic fair that has recently opened its doors in Los Angeles. The park features mesmerising roundabouts and Ferris wheels, designed by renowned 20th-century artists such as Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Kenny Scharf. These rides spin to the rhythm of music from Miles Davis and Philip Glass, creating a surreal atmosphere. The park also includes a mirrored fun house signed by Salvador Dali, a pavilion from Roy Lichtenstein, an enchanted forest by David Hockney, and a marriage chapel designed by Andre Heller, the Austrian multimedia artist who brought the 'Forgotten Fantasy' to life nearly four decades ago.

Heller, a connoisseur of travelling fairs and circuses with diverse interests in film, music, theatre, sculpture, and more, recruited some of the most established names from the last century's art scene as well as some talented newcomers to create Luna Luna. The park was designed with the intention of making art accessible to ordinary people. The fair debuted in Hamburg, Germany in 1987, but after drawing thousands of visitors, the money ran out, bureaucratic obstacles mounted, and plans for a world tour had to be shelved. 'Luna Luna' was stored in 44 shipping containers in Texas for the next 35 years.

That's when Drake, the superstar rapper and singer, got involved. He was 'blown away' by the concept of 'Luna Luna' and had his music company, DreamCrew, buy and restore the fair's attractions. Drake and other investors injected US$100 million into the project. When the dusty containers were opened, breathtakingly unique pieces emerged, like Haring's roundabout, in which distinctive figures seem to come to life like colourful dancers, and Basquiat's Ferris wheel, which has a strong social-protest component. Visitors to the park are left in awe of the unique experience. The park will remain in Los Angeles until the spring of 2024.