Experience PHENOMENA | Mind-Bending Science and Illusions in Calgary
OPENS JAN. 14, 2025

PHENOMENA The Exhibition

Challenge your senses with a world of fascinating deceptions.

WHAT

Explore the science behind illusions and uncover secrets of human perception

WHEN

From Jan. 14 to Mar. 26, 2025

COST

Included with General Admission or a Spark Membership

AGES

Suitable for all ages

Reality Isn’t Always as It Seems – Explore PHENOMENA! 

PHENOMENA: The Exhibition invites you to uncover the science behind illusions and explore the mechanisms that govern human perception. Through hands-on experiences and captivating exhibits, discover how your brain can be tricked and learn about the scientific principles behind these deceptions.

Embrace the wonder of the unknown in mesmerizing illusions like:

  • The Mirror Maze, where endless reflections of false paths and dead ends challenge your depth perception and spatial orientation at every turn.
  • Rub the handles of the Water Spring Bowl with wet hands to make sounds and see water dance to the vibrations.
  • Discover the magic of Mirror Anamorphosis as a distorted image transforms into something familiar when reflected in a shiny surface.
  • Explore the Hollow Face illusion, where a concave face appears convex, tricking your brain into thinking it’s watching your every move.
  • Check out the Interactive Mirror, where sensors and projection technology turn your movements into dynamic visuals, transforming ordinary reflections into digital art.
  • And so many more fascinating illusions to make you question reality!

This one-of-a-kind exhibition is curiosity driven and blends the wonders of science with the magic of discovery—ready to question what you see?

A GLIMPSE OF PHENOMENA

Anti-Gravity Water

Experience the mind-boggling sight of water appearing to flow upward or hover in mid-air. Using hidden mechanisms, this illusion plays with your expectations of how water should behave.

Café Wall

Parallel lines look anything but straight in this illusion created by contrasting black-and-white tiles with staggered grout lines. Learn how color and pattern disrupt our sense of alignment.

  • WORKSHOP ONLY ON:

Electrostatic Generator

Explore the power of static electricity with a high-voltage generator. Watch objects float, spin, or levitate, and experience firsthand the forces that make your hair stand on end—all completely safe and shock-free.

Inverted Maze - Labyrinth

Navigate a labyrinth designed to confuse your sense of space. With deceptive patterns and visual tricks, this simple maze seems more complex than it is, challenging your spatial awareness.

Ladder to China

Experience an impossible ladder that seems to extend endlessly into surreal destinations. Clever perspective tricks make this simple structure transcend physical boundaries.

Ames Room

Step into a room that looks ordinary but isn’t! Its cleverly distorted walls create the illusion of people growing or shrinking as they move across the space. See how precise geometry manipulates size perception.

Selfie Wall

Stand in front of this illusionary backdrop and become part of the art. Designed with optical effects, the Selfie Wall turns ordinary photos into extraordinary keepsakes.

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Vortex

Gaze at a static image that appears to swirl and spin endlessly. This optical trick uses patterns and contrast to fool your brain into perceiving motion where there is none.

Zero Gravity Room

Step into a room where objects—and even people—appear to defy gravity. Sloped floors and walls manipulate perspective, creating an unforgettable anti-gravity experience.

PHENOMENA: The Exhibition is a traveling exhibition produced and toured by Hereleb, Extramuseum, and Dala Projects in collaboration with Science Centre AHHAA.

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