Wow! and Aha!

The 4th of July (in the U.S. at least) usually means big, celebratory fireworks shows.

I love fireworks -- you can hear the crowds ooh and ahh as each new shell explodes and sends a splash of light across the sky.  As people leave the show, many of them will exclaim "Wow! that was great!"

Fireworks are usually a "one and done" type experience. A big WOW while they are happening, but not much afterthought given to the experience.  And that's fine.

Echo Activity 2018 by Olafur Eliasson

The work of one of my favorite contemporary artists, Olafur Eliasson, has been described as "first there is Wow! followed by Aha!"

There is a visual (and often visceral) thrill in encountering Eliasson's artwork (WOW!) but then a need to step back and think about (or often, figure out) what's going on (AHA!)

It's nice to find (or create) a rhythm of exhibits and experiences in a museum so that there are plenty of Wows, but also many Ahas.



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