“… more fun and engaging rather than ‘freaky’ sideshow which … reflects the wonder of the world rather than the divisive ‘they’re not like us’ approach of some other ones.”
Alethea Mouhtouris
4.5 Stars
Venue : 413 George St, Sydney
Dates: Ongoing
You are getting sleeeepy…no, not really
Finding moments of joy and wonder is more important than ever this year and Sydney’s newest interactive exhibition, Museum of Illusions, delivers.
My partner and I seized the opportunity to visit the new Museum of Illusions this week and found it was just what we needed to step back, turn the world upside down (literally in some cases), and change our perspective.
The exhibition gives the welcome gift of escape – a chance to spend a couple of hours marvelling at the 80-plus exhibits. Children at heart, my partner and I wandered the 900- square metre space, throwing ourselves into one activity after the other and rediscovering our love for fun. The exhibit includes immersive installations, optical illusions, and physical activities designed to boggle the mind.
Starting even before you enter, the adventure begins with a large wheel that, if you stare at it long enough while it’s spinning, will make your hand look like it’s pulsing and bending.
Set up beside each display is an easy-to-read explanation about the illusion and the science behind it. It’s an excellent opportunity to get the kids off their phones. Even a jaded teen will be hard-pressed to refrain from joining in the fun.
We’ve been to similar exhibitions both overseas and in other Australian states. This museum’s advantage is that it’s in the CBD, it’s easy to access, and it offers a variety of exhibits to interest all ages. It’s also more fun and engaging rather than ‘freaky’ sideshow which, for us, reflects the wonder of the world rather than the divisive ‘they’re not like us’ approach of some other ones.
Special shoutout to the excellent team members who were on hand to take photos for us.
Here are our top 3 favourite activities.
- The Beuchet Chair. This is set up to confuse perspective. First person stands, second person sits on the ‘chair’, third person takes a photo. Standing person looks tall, seated person looks tiny. Always a classic visual illusion.
- The Reversed Room. Set in an Aussie pub, everything is upside down. Stools, bar, pool table – it’s all hanging from the ceiling. If you hang from the pool table or a stool, get someone to snap a photo, and then rotate the image, it looks as though you’re doing handstands in a bar.
- The Vortex Tunnel. Dark tunnel, walk along a bridge, blue-lit background spins around you – the goal is to try to walk straight. While nothing is actually moving, the illusion creates confusion between your eye and balance, so you stagger like Captain Jack Sparrow on a bad bender. Took me back to a particularly spicy New Year’s Eve when I’d drunk more than was legally advisable.
There were a couple of exhibits that seemed to be space fillers rather than amazing examples of illusion but it didn’t detract from the overall experience.
One thing – the museum was relatively quiet on the day we went but, as an indoor venue with corridors, it has the potential to be noisy if it’s busy. If you or your kids have sensory processing issues or are affected by noisy environments, consider taking earphones or loops-type earplugs to make the experience more enjoyable.
What it is
Easy-to-understand experiences backed by science. Hands-on. Educational and fun for all ages.
What it’s not
Boring!
The Sydney-based Museum of Illusions is the first for Australia, and the latest in a series of more than 60 museums across the world.
Allow about 90 minutes to work through all the exhibits.
For tickets, visit https://moisydney.com
4.5 mindbenders
Alethea Mouhtouris , Theatre Now
