Step into another dimension at “The Real Unreal” exhibit by Meow Wolf, located at Grapevine Mills Mall. Embracing the philosophy of maximalism with large-scale colorful installments, “The Real Unreal” is a mind-blowing, otherworldly experience that leaves guests in awe of its fantastical and hallucinatory peculiarities.
The immersive spectacle features over 30 rooms and more than 70 installations as a collaboration of more than 30 Texas and Santa Fe artists; some of which are Dallas College alumni and former instructors: Sara Cardona, Carlos DonJuan, Adam Palmer, Kwinton Gray and Wanz Dover.
The exhibit begins with a life-sized, two-story suburban house, filled with hidden clues for guests to investigate and solve. From there, multiple pathways enter connecting chambers. All rooms are interconnected like one enormous maze. There is no right or wrong way to explore the exhibit.
One route from the house is the washing machine and dryer. The washing machine has a built-in slide guests can use to enter a neon, light-up forest. An alternate route is the fridge, which leads into a futuristic disco room with multiple fridge doors, one of which activates a disco ball when opened.
On the second story of the house, the closet in one of the bedrooms, is an entry to a treehouse. Go down the stairs to travel the glowing, enchanted forest floor.
Another central section of the exhibit is the faux city street, which contains stores with even more areas to explore.
One of these stores is an abandoned arcade with unique playable games and vending machines. The vending machine at the back wall is a door that also opens to the previously mentioned enchanted forest.
Outside the art installation, Meow Wolf has a cafe and gift shop with original merchandise.
There are so many parts of “The Real Unreal” that could not be explored in one visit.
