Anima takes inspiration specifically from one legend: According to Lacandon Mayans, a man named K’in Obregon was taken to the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1937, to be part of a “human zoo.” Obregon was put on display as an exotic native, which people paid to see—a practice that is probably hard to fathom for today's kids. 

You can get very little of that by just wandering through the abstract exhibit, though, and you will need to read the text at the front of the exhibit to really understand what you’re seeing. Download the exhibit's children's activity book or pick one up there, to spark conversation with your kids. It contains colorful pictures and guiding questions about animals, humans and their souls, including discussing terms like "naturalism" and "animism" and offering simple activities like drawing the soul of a banana. There is a small space set aside for kids to color and draw on-site, but there are no chairs and the tables might be too tall for the smaller kids.

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Walk through the woodland tunnel as you listen for nature sounds and gaze into the water.

The installation begins with a long tunnel of wood, filled with soothing nature sounds that make you feel like you’re walking through a dense forest. At the end of the tunnel is a dark pool of water and a large square rock resembling a human face rising out of the darkness. Above it all hovers a glowing white orb. The orb’s appearance and movements are very ghost- or wisp-like, and the effect is mesmerizing. Surrounding the pond are tree-like sculptures made of wood cuttings. Past the pond, you will find small wooden stairs leading up to a peephole. Look inside to find a recording of a dancing figure.

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Peer into the peephole and you're rewarded with an impromptu dance recording.

The installation is recommended for kids over five and although younger kids aren’t completely barred, I agree that older kids are more likely to appreciate this exhibit, due to its conceptual nature. Also, be forewarned that the exhibit is very dark, with water and a spooky ghost-like apparition. If your kids are scared of the dark or of ghosts, or have a penchant for getting into puddles where you would swear there was no water, you might want to sit this one out.

Anima is on display at the Invisible Dog Art Center, located at 51 Bergen Street in Cobble Hill. It is FREE to visit. The exhibit is part of the Tilt Kids Festival and will be on display through April 14.

The installation is quite small, so you won't need an entire afternoon to visit, which means plenty of time to explore Cobble Hill including family-friendly eateries and the recently opened Curiosity on Court drop-in play space just a few blocks away.

All photos by the author.