Reality can sometimes be altered to deceive our eyes and mind. Don’t believe us?
Well, there’s a place you can go to if you want to challenge your concept of reality and it’s called the Museum of Illusions. Psst… it is also Asia’s first museum that will not only educate you but also challenge the way you view reality!
Situated right in the heart of KL, the Museum of Illusions will trick and amuse your senses as it takes you on “an intriguing visual, sensual and educational” experience that’s created by combining the laws of science, mathematics, biology and psychology.
Feeling excited already? Well, before you make your way there, here are some of our favourite must-see exhibits in the museum.
1. The Empty Room
Do you remember the time when we learnt primary and secondary colours in Pendidikan Seni? Get ready to put that understanding to the test in the Empty Room!
This room is built based on the “Theory of Colour Addition”, whereby the three light beams that project the primary colours – red, green and blue – will appear in secondary colours on the white screen when you stand in between them. The secondary colours that will manifest on the screen are magenta, yellow and cyan (it’s some sort of blue!).
Pretty amazing, right?
2. The Vortex Room
Think you can make it through this vortex steadily? Think again!
Although you aren’t physically going in circles, walking through this vortex will make your head dizzy (almost like VR!). No joke, it will actually make you feel tipsy. 😉
Why does that happen, you ask?
Scientists discovered that our brains can respond to the illusory motion the same way it responds to the real motion. Therefore, we feel dizzy after walking through this vortex as it mimics the motions of going in circles.
In other words, you are actually tricking your brain into thinking that you’re walking in circles because your eyes have picked up the circular motion from the rotating sides. And, that’s science for y’all!
3. The Chair Illusion
It’s all about perspective!
The Chair Illusion will open a whole new world as your mind perceives reality from a different perspective.
The ‘chair’, which is not huge in real life, will appear large in photos (secret: you’re actually just sitting on a short block!). This illusion will tickle your brain as it deceives your eyes by simply offering a different point of view. Pretty simple, eh?
4. The Infinity Room
True to its name, the Infinity Room has mirrors that create the illusion of an infinite space and the pretty optical fibre lights resembling the stars would make you feel like you’re actually in space.
They weren’t lying when they said “the universe is infinite” because you will actually experience an infinite universe here.
Side note, the room felt pretty magical too! 🙂
5. Rotated Room
This is one illusion that we are familiar with, right? If you don’t get it, let me explain.
These girls aren’t actually standing on their hands; instead, this picture is actually flipped 90 degrees. They are merely placing their palms on a flight of stairs that was built upside down. Amazing, right?
If you want to take cool pictures like this, don’t forget to check out this exhibit while you’re there.
6. The Ames Room
Although it appears like an ordinary room, the Ames Room is very cleverly distorted because even when you and a friend stand at different corners of the room, one of you will look bigger than the other.
As you walk further away from your friend to another corner of the room, one of you will either appear to be shrinking or growing. Cool, right?
Apart from the exhibits above, don’t forget to also experience some of these other exhibits while you’re there, such as:
The fun doesn’t stop there because the Museum of Illusions has got didactic games and puzzles that will make your head hurt but excite you at the same time.
Get ready to also put your patience and Lego-fixing skills to the test!
Not only can you play these games there, you can even take them back home as a gift for your loved ones or maybe keep it for yourself. Yep! They sell those games.
Hence, before visiting, here are some things you need to know:
Operation time: 9am – 11pm daily
Entrance fees (MyKad holders): RM35 (Adults) / RM25 (Children below 15 years old) / RM90 (Family – 2 adults and maximum 2 children)
Entrance fees (Non-MyKad holders): RM45 (Adults) / RM35 (Children below 15 years old) / RM120 (Family – 2 adults and maximum 2 children)
Address: Ansa Hotel 1st & 2nd floor, 101 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
The Museum of Illusions is undoubtedly one of the most unique museums to have opened in Malaysia. If you’re hungry for a thrilling adventure that will alter the way you perceive reality, you should definitely check this place out! Plus, there are plenty of photo ops for your IG!
Have fun, guys!
Also read: Never Thought of Travelling to Kunming, China? These 6 Spots Might Change Your Mind