Pop Air is the new immersive playground that's equal parts whimsical, fantastical, and wildly Instagrammable!
Travelling across three continents, the Balloon Museum has finally arrived in Singapore, just in time to fill our calendars for the school holidays. The exhibition is centred around air – essential to life but we can’t really see or touch it, so artists turns it into art we can interact, experience, and even co-create with. The exhibition, POP AIR – Art is Inflatable features 17 larger-than-life artworks that draw you into art and play. It’s whimsical, it’s fantastical, and you’ll fly right into the experience. Move, dance, swing, and float your way through the immersive art playground, like we did! Lots of Instagrammable spots, so get your cameras ready. Before you soar away to the Balloon Museum with your little ones, you’ll want to read our review for all the essential things to note. We know, because we are parents too!
Where: Balloon Museum, POP AIR – Art in Inflatable, Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center, B2, Hall F, 10 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018956
When: 7 June – 31 August 2025
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9.30pm
Price: Tickets from $35 (4 – 12 years old), $40 (13 – 17 years old), $45 (adults), $105 (family bundle)
POP AIR – Art is Inflatable: Must know parenting stuff
- The Balloon Museum is situated in the exhibition halls (not ArtScience Museum).
- It will take approximately 1.5 hours to complete the experience.
- The space is largely accessible to strollers and wheelchairs, except at August 10th where there is a small step up to get to the swings. No storage for strollers or wheelchairs.
- DO NOT wear a dress or skirt to the exhibition – there are mirrors on the floors at one of the artwork.
- There are strobing lights, loud sounds, and theatrical fog at some of the artworks.
- There will be balloons and they are made out of liquid rubber latex. Take note for latex allergy.
- No food and drinks allowed inside but there is a cafe towards the end of the experience.
- Toilets are available inside the Balloon Museum near a couple of exhibitions, please check with the staff on duty.
- Most of the areas are slightly dimmed for better lighting effects.
- Children three and below enters free but we feel the POP AIR exhibition will be best enjoyed by children four and above.
- Children 14 and below must be accompanied by an adult.
- Children under nine are not allowed to use the VR headsets.
What to see at POP AIR – Art is Inflatable
We won’t spoil the experience for you but we will give you a brief overview of what to expect from the POP AIR exhibitions and share what to keep an eye out for, especially with kids.
1. Hypercosmo by Hyperstudio
This is the giant ball pit which everyone loves, but remember, no jumping. With balls below and balloons floating on top, it feels kind of dreamy and ethereal, as though we are floating in clouds. It is a pretty spot for pictures. Wait for the light show that runs every five to 10 minutes, listen out for the announcements.
If you are concerned about hygiene, the balls are cleaned and disinfected with a special machine that allows the balls to be reused immediately.
Note:
- Ball pit is about one metre deep. Adults can touch the floor but it’ll be challenging for the little ones.
- Some strobing lights and loud sounds from the show.
- No shelves to store your belongings.
- Socks are highly recommended.
- Best to remove hair clips, spectacles, and any other clip-on accessories.
2. ARIA – The Breath Immersive Experience by Pepper’s Ghost
This is the very first artwork you will experience at the Balloon Museum. There are mirrors all around, even on the floor, so DO NOT wear dresses or skirts. Watch the trippy digital projection of balls morph into a portrait of a girl. It’s quite mesmerising once you get pass the sensory overload but be careful, you may walk into one of the mirrors. We did. My child felt a little dizzy at first but was quick to regain his balance after awhile.
Note:
- Strobing lights and rapid movements from the digital projections may alter sensory perception.
- DO NOT wear dresses or skirts
3. ADA by Karina Smigla-Bobinski
This is one POP AIR exhibit that you co-create with the artist. Looking like a floating durian, you can push and roll huge this inflated sphere to create charcoal marks all over the space, even the ceiling and the floor! We found it more challenging to get the sphere down, give it a try and let us know if you did it!
Note:
- Hands will get dirty from the charcoal but Balloon Museum has wet wipes, sanitisers, and tissue papers on standby at the end of the room.
- Although the sphere is almost always floating up, the charcoal can reach the top of children’s heads when moving, be careful.
4. August 10th by Hyperstudio
Everyone will get a chance on the swing here because there are 22 of them, arranged around a central platform with a dancing bubble chandelier on the top. If you have ever relished the idea of swinging under the stars, this is your dream come true. This exhibition is inspired by the Night of San Lorenzo, a popular summer tradition for stargazing as stars flashes across the Italian skies. And yes, it happens on 10 August. Hop on, make a wish, and swing into the celestial sky.
Note:
- It’s a little dimmed in here and might get too misty. Watch your steps and hold on to the little ones.
5. Spiritus Sonata by ENESS
Cute, luminous inflatable creatures fill the space. Each one of them singing a different tune, as though they’re telling you the secrets to the world, in a melodious cryptic way. Go up close to listen to what they have to say, but not too close as it can get loud.
Note:
- Kids have the tendency to stick their entire face or ears into the nasal extensions of the characters, which can make the sounds too loud. Standing close is good enough for a beautiful surround sound effect.
6. Canopy by Pneuhaus
You’ll have to work to get this going. Hop onto a bike and pedal to inflate the canopy of the tree-like light sculptures. The good thing is you don’t have to cycle too hard for it to inflate. And honestly, it was rather therapeutical watching the canopy float up and down, mimicking our in and out breaths.
7. Cloud Swing by Lindsay Glatz and Curious Form
Great for family photos! Feel the weightlessness of air as you swing beneath the clouds in this neon-lighted, mystical space. There are six swings here and with its background, it frames very well in the pictures. So, expect a short queue here.
8. Glowing Ballet by Hyperstudio
A glowing tornado of balloons spiral around as the air which moves them, shifts. It was so inviting, we just had to step in and twirl around, creating our own dance with the balloons.
Note:
- Latex balloons – take note for latex allergy.
- Balloons can burst so be gentle with them.
9. Soft Hurricane by Quiet Ensemble
This is another mesmerising exhibition that had us standing there, all drawn into the soft, gentle ensemble by the balloons. The synchronised light, movement, and sound of the balloons looked just like a delightful performance, even though it is a reinterpretation of a natural storm.
Note:
- Some strobing lights.
10. Swing by MOTOREFISICO
Despite its name, you don’t get to swing on this one. But you get to push, bounce, and swing the giant balls. It reminds us of Newton’s Cradle, where one ball pushes the other in perpetual motion.
Note:
- The balls are huge and will bump against each other, just watch out for the little kids.
11. Bau(ncy) House by Jimmy Kuehnle
Not the bouncy house or castle you have in mind, more like a maze with inflated pillars. During our visit, this exhibition didn’t glow or light up like what we see in the pictures. It was too dim, so we used the lights on our phones to get around.
Note:
- Hold on to the kids. The inflatable structures are tall and can feel scary for smaller kids.
12. Crazy Love for Polygons by Cyril Lancelin
A room filled with giant inflated polyhedrons that’s perfect for free play. Build a tower or a fort, crawl through the inflatables, or roll it around, leave it to the kids to have their fun there.
13. Into the Rainbow by Ultravioletto
This is a VR journey that takes the viewer into the hues of the rainbow set in a whimsical world. Think flying rubber duckies, egg yolk suns, and more. There are eye masks to keep things a little more hygienic with the VR headsets – my kid was happy to keep it on even after because it looks like Batman!
Note:
- Children under nine are not allowed to use the VR headsets.
14. Silenus by Max Streicher
We don’t really think about how air moves in our body, and this exhibition shows us how. Using the life-cast of his friend to create this humongous human form, the artist communicates a sense of transience as the structure “breathes”.
15. A Quiet Storm by Quiet Ensemble
Too dark, too slippery and we don’t know what we should be experiencing. Until we saw one smoke-filled bubble float pass us when we turned on torchlights on our phones. After a long interval of darkness, the spotlights came on. Only then did we get to see the delicate beauty of the bubbles floating in the light. Unfortunately, it was short-lived and we spent most of the time trying to find out way out without falling. There seemed to be shoe covers available but we couldn’t find any except in the trash bin.
Note:
- Dark and slippery, hold on tight to the kids.
- Tread carefully and your shoes won’t get wet.
16. The Ginjos by Rub Kandy
You’ll see these cute inflatables as you enter the Balloon Museum. Big eyes, no mouth, and like a roly-poly, stands up when you push it down.
17. The Goofs by Filthy Luker
These inflatable monsters will see you off as you make your way out of the museum.
Cafe and retail shop at POP AIR – Art is Inflatable
At the end of the exhibition, is a cafe and retail space with all the cute Balloon Museum merchandise, think plushies, magnets, keychains, tee, and even balloon sculptures. Drinks start from $3.50 for a bottle of mineral water, with a wide selection to choose from. Besides the coffee and juice, you can also get fancy with Prosecco and Aperol Spritz. Comparatively, the range of food is smaller, with snacks like curry puff, wraps, cakes, donuts, and muffins on the menu.
How will you be enjoying Balloon Museum’s POP AIR? Share with us on socials!
