The Balloon Museum is a collection of works from various artists with a unifying theme: air.
Various exhibits by the museum have been featured in major cities like New York, Paris, Rome, London and many other cities. In Atlanta, an exhibit under this umbrella, titled “Let’s Fly” opened to the public as a limited showing on Feb. 17.
The exhibit, located at Pullman Yards, hosts a plethora of different works from artists across the world, each specializing in surrealism.
Despite its name, much of the Balloon Museum is not composed of conventional balloons. Exhibits rely on inflatables, bubbles and balls to provide their respective experiences.
Unlike a classic art museum, the “Let’s Fly” exhibit is linear, meaning there is a set beginning and end, as well as a path visitors must follow throughout.
Unlike many other pop-up experiences, the “Let’s Fly” exhibit prides itself on its interactivity. Many of the art pieces are urged to be touched, moved or even jumped in by those visiting.
For sections of the museum, those visiting are given black cloth covers for their shoes to maintain the cleanliness of the exhibits. Hand sanitizer is also offered throughout, notably after the more interactive works.
This interactive layer of certain pieces makes the museum feel like an immersive experience. In many sections, visitors are almost transported into the pieces themselves, instead of simply viewing them.
The artworks lean heavily on surrealism, creating spaces like something out of a dream. Many blend elements of the natural world with the obscure, such as the aptly named “Balloon Tree” by Myeongbeom Kim.
Other pieces, such as “Zeros” by SpY, are entirely in the realm of the surreal. It is this aspect of the avant-garde that makes the “Let’s Fly” exhibit stand out. Many exhibits require a longer time to absorb what the artist’s viewpoint and message is.
The interactivity factor of certain pieces hammers the feeling of home, allowing visitors to make slight alterations to the piece.
Examples of this are seen in Karina Smigla-Bobinski’s “ADA” which encourages viewers to bounce the massive helium-filled ball at the center of the piece against the white walls, covering them with soot.
One of the most fascinating pieces, and alluring to many, is the collaboration piece between Hyperstudio, Quiet Ensemble and Roman Hill: “Hyperstellar.” The piece features massive pits filled with shade balls, which coupled with the wavy imagery on the screens surrounding the piece, encapsulate the viewer in a world of the artist’s design.
Visitors are encouraged to venture into the ball pits and observe the room around them as ambient music and dynamic light shows surround them.
The exhibit is friendly to all ages with pieces tailored to both younger and older audiences; a select few works showcase mild nudity, which may be inappropriate for some younger audiences.
The Balloon Museum’s “Let’s Fly” in Atlanta is a one-of-a-kind experience.
The gallery of works, each vastly different from the last, warrants a trip through for any fan of the surreal or otherwise. The “Let’s Fly” exhibit leaves Atlanta on June 9, so there is plenty of time to float through and experience it yourself.
