Art installation puts eye-catching giant humanoids in downtown Mesa
May 4, 2018, 4:30 AM
(Mesa Arts Center)
(Mesa Arts Center)
PHOENIX — Giant, glowing humanoids are invading downtown Mesa, but don’t be afraid — it’s just art.
Six massive inflatable figures, lit from the inside, will be on display at the Mesa Arts Center and surrounding locations as part the “Fantastic Planet” art installation.
The free event was scheduled to open Friday and run until May 13.
A community celebration was planned for the opening night, including musical acts, dance performances and artist demonstrations. The entertainment includes singer/songwriter Elise Trouw, who recently appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
Other related events were planned throughout the run of the installation, including the monthly 2nd Friday Night Out activities on May 11.
Three of the white, featureless figures will be set up on the Mesa Arts Center grounds (1 E. Main St.). The others will be at Milano’s Music (38 W. Main St.), The Federal Building (26 N. Macdonald) and the i.d.e.a. Museum (150 W. Pepper Place).
Inspired by the 1973 Czech/French science fiction film “Fantastic Planet,” Australian Amanda Parer created the art installation, which is making its U.S. premier in Mesa.
According to Parer’s website, “These forms will not be randomly placed sculptures but can be rather strategically placed to give the impression that the giant humanoids have taken over entire event site.”
It made previous stops in Europe, Australia and Canada. Future stops were scheduled for San Francisco and Toledo, Ohio.
Fantastic Planet isn’t the first massive visual piece appearing in downtown Mesa this week. The Arizona Museum of Natural History unveiled a new façade Tuesday with a lifelike dinosaur replica that seems to be breaking through a wall.
