Source: https://www.travelandleisure.com/culture-design/visual-arts/meow-wolf-omega-mart-psychedelic-grocery-store-las-vegas
Overview:
Omega Mart is an immersive art experience created by Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment company Meow Wolf. Combining a rich narrative with mind-blowing art and music elements, Omega Mart is a one-of-a-kind installation that turns an unassuming supermarket into a psychedelic and strange experience that seems like it’s straight out of H.P. Lovecraft.
The market is separated into four themed areas and over 60 unique environments, including themed rooms, terrains, and even portals to other worlds. Meow Wolf collaborated with over 50 musicians, artists, and creatives, including Beach House, Brian Eno, Amon Tobin, Shrine, and Android Jones, to create this immersive experience. But this is no typical grocery store, the 52,000 square feet of space is full of strange and bizarre offerings, like fresh-cut flowers with teeth and eyes, anthropomorphic vegetables, and advertising displays for “magic meat” (only $1.99 a pound!), “half a heart,” and “nebula loaf,”
“A trip to the grocery store has never been this creepy“
Analysis:
I genuinely enjoy the premise of this art installation because it takes conventional items from the grocery store and creates an immersive environment to enjoy shopping. Even though this isn’t an actual grocery store, it makes me question if grocery stores could learn from this art installation to make grocery shopping more interactive and enjoyable at every step of the process. I wonder if I could design an more interactive experience when loading up the car after leaving the store or an interactive way to make packing the car more exciting and effective. I’m left wondering what sensory objects (physical or digital) could revive the enjoyability of the grocery shopping experience.
