Artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, known for their iconic land art piece Prada Marfa, are opening a new exhibition titled “The Alice in Wonderland Syndrome” at Pace Gallery in Los Angeles. The show features surreal installations including a silicone gallery assistant asleep at her desk, men in VR goggles embracing, and circular sky paintings with mirrors, all presented at both full and half scale in two rooms. The exhibition draws inspiration from Alice in Wonderland syndrome, a neurological condition that distorts perception of scale, and continues the duo’s 30-year practice of transforming gallery spaces into immersive, humorous environments that challenge power structures.
This exhibition matters because it marks a major new chapter for Elmgreen & Dragset, who have long been celebrated for blending sculpture, architecture, and performance with a queer, comedic lens. As Prada Marfa turns 20, the show reaffirms their influence on contemporary art, particularly in how they use humor and scale to critique the art world and empower viewers. The inclusion of novelist Ottessa Moshfegh for a talk also highlights the intersection of literature and visual art, while the exhibition’s playful approach to the white cube format underscores ongoing conversations about the role of galleries in shaping artistic experience.