The inflatable art! Balloon Museum in Milan

Today I want to tell you about an exhibition that introduced me to a new and special form of art, confirming again that the concept of art lies in astonishing and fascinating: the inflatable art.

In fact, during the Christmas holidays, I had the pleasure of visiting Balloon Museum's Pop Air exhibition, set up at the spaces of Superstudiopiù in Milan. It is the third edition, after Rome and Paris, and will be open until Feb. 12, 2023.

Pop Air features twenty works/installations by different international artists that are based on the element of air, whether enclosed in a balloon, a bubble or represented digitally. The works are not things to look at but elements in which to immerse oneself, play, touch, be photographed. The interaction between the audience and the work is absolutely the basis of the whole experience, and it makes this an exhibition that children also really enjoy. I visited it with my family, and my nine-year-old daughter was thrilled.

The exhibition route literally runs through the twenty works, leading visitors to interact with them. The good use of darkness and light effects, makes the entire journey, even in the stretches of movement between the works, very evocative and engaging.

Among the works I enjoyed most was the first one: "Aria" by Pepper's Ghost, a digital work where thanks to large screens and mirrors, you find yourself completely immersed in colorful balloons, really a great welcome.

This is followed by the brilliant creatures of "Airship Orchestra" by Eness and the complex "Knot" by Cyril Lancelin, both based on large inflatable structures.

The tour proceeds with perhaps the most popular installation, namely "Hypercosmo" by Hyperstudio a huge "ball pit" where we are invited to immerse ourselves. Again, mirrors, the ceiling made "cloud-like" and the light performance we witness make the experience really enjoyable for everyone, young and old.

The work that enchanted me the most was "A quiet storm" di Quiet Ensemble where you find yourself in a dark room and are overwhelmed by a storm of soap bubbles, transparent and white, really funny, a true sensory work.

At this link you can find descriptions of all the works on display, always able to find different ways to immerse and engage the visitor.

This exhibition introduces us to a new way of making art, a new way of amazement. Inflatable art often uses giant shapes, vivid colors, often creating a "cartoon" effect that contrasts vividly with the "ordinary" environment of the installations. Tentacles coming out of buildings, monsters, huge fruits or immense ducks, there are countless such installations in the world, and the "WOW" effect is guaranteed. And unlike other art forms, it has a great merit: it fascinates, amazes and enchants even children. Perhaps they may not grasp the full meaning of the work, or the social message it conceals, but even in them the magic of amazement, the falling in love of surprise, takes place. Take children to see these works, it is a way to engage them in something positive and inspiring.

And remember this article the next time you inflate a balloon.

Pictures from my visit at the exhibition.