Having helped bring MAGIC PLACE to life, I thought I knew what to expect but being in the space was something else entirely. I stayed far longer than planned, caught up in its shifting colours and playful energy.
The whole space feels alive. As soon as you walk in, the walls begin to respond, colours shift, shapes ripple, and everything moves with you. It’s like stepping into a video game, but softer, more thoughtful. I caught myself smiling at how joyful it all felt.
For me, it stirred something deeply familiar. I grew up playing games with my brothers and my mum huddled around old consoles and clunky PCs, laughing, competing, exploring. Gaming was how we spent time together, how we connected. MAGIC PLACE brought that feeling rushing back: the sense of discovery, of shared wonder, of being part of something that responds to you.
At one point, I sat down on the floor (something I don’t usually do in galleries!) and just watched. A little girl ran past me, and the entire wall lit up in response. Her mum laughed, and we exchanged that kind of look you give a stranger when you’re both caught in the same lovely moment. It reminded me how rare it is to feel connected to people you don’t even know.
Nicola and Tim from Genetic Moo have created something that’s not just fun, it’s full of feeling. It’s playful, yes, but also reflective. It made me think about how we interact with the world now, and with each other through screens, through movement, through shared experience.
If you’re in Tunbridge Wells this summer, go see it. It’s free, it’s joyful, and it might just offer a moment of stillness or surprise you didn’t know you needed.
Among shifting patterns and playful light, I felt the quiet joy of being together.
Blog written by Rebecca Bell - Apprentice Curator