Since 2022, over a dozen Paradox Museums have opened internationally. Some are in Miami, Las Vegas, London, Paris, Shanghai, and Mumbai. To date, over two million visitors have visited them. The exhibits trick your eyes and challenge your mind. And that is the very definition of optical illusions. At the Paradox, however, you do more than view them. You actually "inhabit" them.
A popular exhibit is the Zero Gravity Room. This "space station" is set in an enormous, slow-moving vertical wheel. As you enter, you place your smartphone camera in a spinning mount. The wheel is synced to the revolving room. When you see yourself on the monitor, you're walking up walls and across the ceiling. In reality, you're feet down on the wheel and probably scratching your head in confusion. And you've captured it all on your smartphone. So, you'll have your friends scratching their heads, too, when you post the incredible video on social media. The shots should be perfect because every Paradox exhibit has been designed with its photographability in mind.
Another exhibit, the Reversed Room, also imitates weightlessness. In this baffling fun house, everything is earthbound except for you. You're seemingly walking on the ceiling or hanging from the lighting fixture. The Reversed Room has a different setting depending on what city you're in. The one in London, for example, is a station in the Underground, the city's subway system. The one in Hamburg, Germany, resembles the Sankt Pauli section of the city, with its bustling nightlife.
There are many other Paradox exhibits, like the Ames Room, where you shrink or grow, depending on where in the room you're standing. In the Camouflage Room, you seemingly disappear into the walls. And the Infinity Room is a compact house of mirrors that reflects you endlessly into seemingly limitless space. Plop down on the Paradox Sofa, and you'll find yourself suddenly split into halves. Walk through the Paradox Tunnel, and your sense of balance, direction, and gravity will be thrown off. In addition to the larger exhibits, there are many smaller ones, too. These look completely different when you view them from different angles.
The Paradox's clever mix of science, corporate know-how, and showbiz reflects its creators. Miltos Kambourides is a real estate developer from Cyprus with three degrees in technology. Sakis Tanimanidis is a Greek businessman, TV personality, and producer.
Unlike most illusionists, however, the Paradox Museum readily reveals the interplay of science, human mentality, and sleight of hand at work in each exhibit. But here's the general idea: Seeing isn't always believing.
Think about and discuss these questions:
What evidence from the article supports the idea that the Paradox Museums provide patrons with an interactive experience?
Which exhibit from the article would you like to visit? Why?
Video credit: Associated Press
QUESTION 5
5 / 8
Which sentence from the article best supports the idea that exhibits at Paradox Museums have parts that are connected to their locations?
In this baffling fun house, everything is earthbound except for you.
In the Camouflage Room, you seemingly disappear into the walls.
The exhibits trick your eyes and challenge your mind.
The Reversed Room has a different setting depending on what city you're in.
1 answer
The sentence from the article that best supports the idea that exhibits at Paradox Museums have parts that are connected to their locations is:
"The Reversed Room has a different setting depending on what city you're in."
This statement indicates that the design and theme of the exhibit are tailored to reflect the specific location of the museum, emphasizing the connection between the exhibits and their geographical context.
