Immersive Art Experience: Mercer Labs

I recently had the pleasure of attending the immersive art exhibition at Mercer Labs in New York City, and it was truly spectacular. Limitless by Roy Nachum, the visionary artist and co-founder of the Museum of Art and Technology, is a groundbreaking experience consisting of fifteen installations that merge art, technology, and the senses within the museum’s walls. Each of the fifteen distinct environments invites us to step inside the artist's mind and immerse ourselves in his world.

From the moment you step in, Limitless feels like a journey through Nachum’s psyche, his memories, and his unique vision of nature. The first room sets the tone with a mesmerizing 3D motion design projected above. It’s an invitation to shift your perspective, literally and figuratively, as you gaze upward and lose yourself in the movement of the visuals. Right away, you’re encouraged to see the world differently, because Mercer Labs isn’t your typical museum.

Next, you step into a massive immersive room surrounded by 360-degree projections that feel alive. Swinging amidst the swirling visuals, your inner child awakens — you’re invited to experience pure wonder and joy in a sea of color and motion.

One of the most striking installations features hyperrealistic portraits of visually impaired individuals, paired with a documentary about the creative process of the series. Nachum’s oil paintings are astonishingly detailed, but there’s a collaborative twist: the subjects themselves are invited to paint over their portraits, creating a poignant duality. This conversation between the artist and his subjects challenges traditional notions of identity and authorship.

A recurring motif throughout the exhibition is the imagery of children and monkeys with crowns covering their eyes — a powerful symbol of visual limitation that challenges the very idea of what it means to “see.” The message of Limitless is clear: visual impairment is not a boundary. Each installation thoughtfully incorporates Braille descriptions at its entrance, ensuring accessibility for all. Visitors are encouraged to engage beyond sight, exploring textures, sounds, and the tactile elements of each space. This multisensory approach reinforces that true immersion goes far beyond the visual.

Upstairs, it becomes clear why we’re asked to wear shoe covers upon entry. In a room covered with soft carpet and cushioned walls, you’re invited to lie down and let the sound wash over you. The beats pulse through your entire body, creating a sensory experience that’s hard to describe but is unforgettable. Here, the vibrations that pulsate your bones become the art, adding a new dimension to the exhibition’s immersive nature.

What you see …

… what they see :)

As you walk through a hallway, you catch a stunning aerial view of the large immersive room you visited earlier. This shift in perspective is a subtle reminder of the interconnectedness of the spaces — much like Nachum’s vision for the entire exhibition.

The next room is pure magic. Mirrors and projections work together to create the sensation of being absorbed by the ocean. It’s tranquil and surreal; an entirely immersive escape into the glistening blue.

Then, we are guided into the Dragon. This space is an entrancing blend of mirrors and glowing patterns, creating depth and motion that feels infinite. A brief light show featuring a running horse reminded me of the first ever motion picture. Thinking about the first days of the advent of cinema to today's immersive digital entertainment, I can say that we've come a long way.

The Horse in Motion by Eadweard Muybridge, 1878. A sequential series of six to twelve automatic electro-photographs depicting the movement of a horse. 

The journey continues into a pink floral wonderland where the “Monkey King” reigns. The walls are covered in pink flowers, and there’s foam chairs that resemble rocks where we’re invited to sit. This room feels like a portal to a pre-civilization era. Unlike the primitive chaos depicted in 2001: A Space Odyssey, our ancestors violent and brute on barren land, this space offers a vision of royalty and harmony in a lush, dreamlike realm.

Finally, we’re led into the basement, an interactive playground full of creative opportunities. Visitors are invited to draw with crayons, paint in 3D on digital screens, or marvel at a robot duo playing a music box — both figures adorned with the signature crowns over their eyes. In addition to a massive ball pit that we’re urged to not jump in, there’s a room that serves as a chessboard featuring characters from the exhibition.

Chess is a game of strategy, hierarchy, and control. Each piece has a role, yet their movements are interdependent. Limitations, whether physical, societal, or self-imposed, don't necessarily diminish one's potential. Placing these figures on a chessboard emphasizes the push and pull between agency and constraint, vision and blindness, individuality and collective systems. When life itself feels like a chess game — filled with choices, power plays, and moments of opposition, Nachum prompts viewers to consider their own roles in shaping the “moves” of their lives and relationships. 

The last installation left me pondering. Called Archetype, a robot draws patterns in sand with haste, stops to wave its arm at the audience, and gets back to work. Perhaps a visual representation of AI-generated art, perhaps a celebration of the transient nature of things. Drawing on sand is a poignant nod to ephemeral art – all the works in Mercer Labs offer an experience rather than a physical artwork you can purchase to bring home with you. The museum is of things that exist while you’re in there, and live solely in your mind and memories once you’re out the door. And, in my case, in these sentences.

Roy Nachum and Mercer Labs have created something truly unique with Limitless, blending art, technology, and human emotion in a way that feels fresh and deeply meaningful. From the sensory experiences to the interactive installations, every room challenges you to see the world — and yourself — differently.

If you’re looking for a fun, innovative, and engaging experience to do  in New York City, don’t look father than Mercer Labs. Make sure to take your time in each room, and let your senses, and inner child, awaken.

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