‘Shiki Dreams’ of A Mystical Forrest In Denver

When I toured Prismajic’s Natura Obscura in early 2019, what struck me most about the exhibit was the sense of wonder and curiosity that it kindled inside of me. Five years and a whole pandemic later, Prismajic is still nurturing that innate desire to explore, now with a permanent immersive exhibit and speakeasy bar next door with the same whimsically sophisticated theme.

After their successful run with Natura Obscura at the Museum of Outdoor Arts in 2019 was extended several times, Prismajic co-founders Eric Jaenike and Jennifer Mosquera searched for a permanent space to install Shiki Dreams, the follow-up to Natura Obscura. When nothing materialized, they went the route of a pop-up in their 1,400 square foot studio space with 9 foot tall ceilings and opened two weeks before Covid hit in early 2020.

What was meant to be a short, temporary installment ended up being a much longer-term solution while Prismajic figured out how to pivot out of the pandemic. Over the next two years, in small groups of six, over 6,000 people walked through Shiki Dreams — which earned a spot on USA Today’s Top 10 Immersive Art Experiences in the country in 2021.

After two years of running what they affectionately refer to as “Little Shiki” out of their studio, Jennifer says it’s “a miracle” they were able to keep it running long enough to find their new permanent home in Golden. As a self-funded nonprofit, the team kept hitting dead ends trying to find an affordable location in Denver. That is, until the 40 West Arts District on West Colfax helped connect them with the Colorado Mills Mall where they now reside.

Open to the public since December of 2023, the 4,000 square foot space currently consists of 4 rooms — two of which are quite large and sprawling, and all of which have incredible, intimate levels of detail. Don’t go into Shiki Dreams searching for narrative or an end-to-end story, though. Jennifer told me the overarching goal of the experience is to get people to connect with themselves.

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“The narrative is your narrative,” she said. “We just create a shell for you to go into and explore it.”

To set the scene for that exploration and introspection: upon entering the exhibition visitors enter a dimly lit room with a large, glowing hut at the center. That hut belongs to Shiki, the exhibition’s namesake, a yeti who resides there. Stepping into the hut, curious visitors who do more than take a cursory glance will notice curiosities in every corner — many of which tie into the yeti’s dream worlds waiting outside, beyond the hut.

Armed with a blacklight flashlight, visitors are encouraged to treat the exhibit as a treasure hunt, pointing the light in every corner, nook and cranny they can find. And with tiny caves built into the walls from floor to ceiling, there is no shortage of places to look. Sweeping the floor with black light reveals animal paw prints and fallen leaves, while shining it at the walls magically activates hidden murals and sends water trickling down rocks.

“If Meow Wolf is a psychedelic funhouse,” Jennifer said, “then Shiki Dreams is a zen garden.”

This holds true when it comes to special activations in the space, too. There are a number of opportunities to make things happen in Shiki Dreams, always indicated by a large pair of yeti footprints. Stepping onto those footprints triggers sounds, lights and movement from within the set — all with the goal of getting you to downregulate and ponder your existence within the natural world.

Outside of the exhibit, Prismajic’s programming aligns with that goal of creating a space that co-founder Eric Jaenike has defined as “a thoughtful sanctuary.” Current event offerings include a day camp for kids, craft cocktail classes, and wellness events like yoga and sound baths. In addition to an elevated offering of snacks and boards, The Night Owls bar next door offers a “sensory flight” of five shots, each named after one of our five senses.

With an additional 4,000 square feet of unused space, and quickly approaching their one-year anniversary in their new home, Prismajic is currently working on fundraising for new rooms to expand the exhibit in the coming years, while always adding new easter eggs to the current exhibit that delight both new and repeat visitors alike.

Shiki Dreams runs Wednesdays thorugh Sundays at the Colorado Mills Mall in Lakewood, CO. Tickets are $28 for adults (16+) and $15 for children (ages 6–15). Kids 5 and under are free.