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This display of film and video art, billed as “a sweeping odyssey into the depths of human experience,” has taken over all six stories of the abandoned, historic Variety Arts Theater in Downtown L.A. (the theater served as the setting for this past Halloween’s immersive haunt Delusion, and the expansive space was as impressive as the production itself). Over a century of visual storytelling is explored, blurring the line between visual art and cinema. The contemporary video works by artists including Marina Abramović, Doug Aitken, Chris Burden, Cyprien Gaillard, Arthur Jafa and Precious Okoyomon—juxtaposed with cinematic works by the likes of Walt Disney and Georges Méliès—come from the time-based art collection of the Germany-based Julia Stoschek Foundation. It’s the first time JSF has presented a show in the U.S.
The show is provocative and thought-provoking without being preachy. Stoschek encourages guests to get lost within the space, and notice what feeling they walk away with. Traveling through the theater feels like a treasure hunt—you follow dark corridors and peek around corners to find hidden artworks and cozy seating. Be sure you take the time to explore the basement, which was my favorite part of the exhibition. But the most arresting piece is the centerpiece of the show: Jafa’s Apex, a montage that’s screened on the theater’s massive screen. Within 8.5 minutes, it flashes 841 images edited to an unsettling, monotone score: Comics and pop culture are juxtaposed with historical moments of horror, depicting as accurate a representation of the human condition as I’ve ever seen.
I left the experience feeling much more impacted and inspired than I have been by most art exhibitions. “What a Wonderful World” is perfect for a date or a solo artist excursion. The entire experience stuck in my mind, so much so that I went back a few weeks later to see it again. It doesn’t hurt that admission is free—and so is the the popcorn you can snack on while you watch the art, in true movie-theater style.