5 Ways to Fully Enjoy Wonderspaces San Diego in 2019
Wonderspaces is in its 3rd year here in San Diego, and has expanded to Scottsdale, Arizona with a permanent location. There are two types of people that visit Wonderspaces. People there to take selfies, and people there for the art annoyed at the people taking selfies. This pop-up gallery has divided the art community because of how some of the patrons interact with the art. Interestingly enough 6 out of the 13 pieces chosen for this show are almost completely in the dark.
Regardless of the reason you are visiting Wonderspaces, here are 5 pieces of advice:
1. Read the Descriptions Online Before Visiting
It can be difficult to fully grasp what each artist is trying to present to the world without any context. The Wonderspaces website does a good job with giving a brief summary of each work, along with links to the artists' online profile. Understanding that Rainbow Room is a visualized biography or We Are Made of Light is about human connection that transcends time will give you a much deeper appreciation for your visit.
2. Utilize Gallery Attendants
Don't like reading? Then you can watch this video. Or you can simply ask the gallery attendants at Wonderspaces about each art installation. Some of the information I learned on my visit was not available on the website. Simple questions like "what does this piece mean?" or "how do you pronounced Myrkviðr?" is better answered through human contact. You can also learn little tidbits of trivia like all the faces in Les Cent Visages contains 100 faces. Each of those faces are personal friends of the artist. The attendants are there to make sure your selfies don't destroy the piece, but also are there to answer your questions about the piece.
3. Bring a Good Camera
Ultimately, you're going to want to take pictures. Wether it is photos of you or of the art works themselves. Just know that some of the works are extremely dark, and might be too dark for a phone camera. It'd be best to bring a camera with a big sensor that allows for low-light photography. If you vlog, the Sony RX100 series or Canon G7X are great prosumer options. Or you can bring your DSLR or Mirrorless camera with a large aperture lens to get the best images.
4. Come Early in the Morning
Now that school is out, Wonderspaces will likely be a hit with the millennial demographic causing larger amounts of people to navigate through. From my past experiences, coming early in the morning gives you less crowds to compete with. This allows for more (or less) selfies, and more time with each piece to truly immerse yourself in.
5. Collaborate with Strangers
Some of the interactive artworks are collaborative in nature. Like a pickup game of basketball, you can simply jump in and play. Notably with Space Here Becomes Sound, Harmony of Spheres, and Anima you will be playing with other people. Embrace the cooperative nature of these pieces and play with other people! Don't be ashamed to sing at sound-triggered pieces. Or create a symphony in the dark. Or be selective about your soundtrack when re-arranging sculptures.
From my interpretation the point of Wonderspaces's "In Common" is to understand the different perspectives of each artist, each attendee, and yourself. This allows you to identify how you are different, but what you all have in common.
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