Lauren Halsey's "emajendat": An Immersive Artistic Experience at the Hollywood Bowl

Artist Lauren Halsey recently unveiled her most ambitious artistic endeavor to date, a spectacular transformation of the renowned Hollywood Bowl into her unique “emajendat” world. This immersive project, a fusion of art and music, reached its peak with a performance by the iconic Erykah Badu. Halsey's vision brought together elements of Afrofuturism, South Los Angeles culture, and handmade artistry to create an unforgettable experience, pushing the boundaries of what an artistic presentation can achieve in a live venue.

Days before the grand opening, Halsey's South Los Angeles workshop buzzed with activity, a whirlwind of creative energy. Her team meticulously prepared various components, including a vibrant neon pharaoh and a whimsical light-up palm tree, destined for the Hollywood Bowl. Halsey, despite the intense pressure, described herself as “floating,” a state she linked to the funk concept of being “on the one” – a harmonious flow where everything aligns perfectly, even amidst stress. This profound connection to funk, particularly the psychedelic Afrofuturist world of George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic, deeply influences her artistic philosophy.

The core of Halsey's “emajendat” at the Hollywood Bowl was an expansive, modular stage design, crafted over months by Halsey and her team. This intricate set was a three-dimensional collage, rich with technicolor palms, ancient Egyptian motifs, custom hand-painted signs, and grand sculptures. Halsey emphasized the importance of the handmade in an increasingly digital world, stating, “Things have become so digital. Things have become so flat that, like, I miss the handmade.” This commitment to tactile creation underscored the authenticity and depth of her artistic vision. Erykah Badu, performing within this extraordinary environment, remarked, “I’ve performed at the Hollywood Bowl many times. But this time, I won’t be stepping into the Hollywood Bowl. I’ll be stepping into Lauren’s world.”

Beyond the central performance, Halsey’s influence extended across the entire Hollywood Bowl grounds. The venue was reimagined with interactive installations, including roller skating areas, miniature golf courses, basketball setups, airbrushing stations, and ping-pong tables. Even the staff uniforms were part of the artistic tapestry, with 470 Bowl workers donning Halsey-designed Agolde shirts and stagehands exchanging their standard black attire for “wild foil jumpsuits” and sculptural wigs. The spectacle was further enhanced by an array of fireworks and lasers, adding to the multisensory experience. This holistic approach ensured that every aspect of the event resonated with Halsey’s distinctive creative signature.

The “emajendat” concept itself first materialized on a grand scale at London’s Serpentine South Gallery in 2024. There, Halsey transformed the gallery into a “funk garden,” transplanting the visual essence of South Central Los Angeles to an international stage. This earlier iteration featured prismatic floors and walls made from CDs, sand dunes, and fantastical sculptures, serving as a prototype for her more ambitious plans. The Hollywood Bowl project, two years later, stands as the most expansive and fully realized version of “emajendat” yet, solidifying her long-held ambition to bring her art home to Los Angeles.

Halsey’s artistic endeavors are deeply rooted in her personal connection to Los Angeles. Many of the interactive elements at the Bowl, such as mini-golf, are activities she genuinely enjoys, reflecting her desire to “build fun at the door.” The Hollywood Bowl holds a special place in her heart, having been an iconic and cherished venue since her childhood. She values its accessibility, noting that it's "the people's venue" where anyone can visit, even to simply enjoy a sandwich while the LA Phil rehearses, highlighting its communal and open nature.

A key aspect of Halsey’s work is her dedication to accessibility. Earlier this year, she launched “sister dreamer,” a free public sculpture park in South Central Los Angeles. This park, featuring nearly 22-foot Egyptian-style columns and sphinxes, monumentalizes her family, friends, mentors, and local heroes. Managed by the Summaeverythang Community Center, a nonprofit she founded, the park hosts jazz performances, Kemetic yoga, art workshops, and album listening parties, all designed to be enjoyed and admired by the community. At the Hollywood Bowl, while working on a different scale, her underlying intention remained the same: to create a world and invite everyone to be a part of it.

The collaboration with Erykah Badu began with a simple text message from Halsey, who had long cultivated relationships with musicians she admired. Halsey, who often invited artists to perform at her exhibition after-parties, showed Badu a rendering of her vision, asking if she could imagine performing in such a setting. Badu's enthusiastic response, "Yeah, why not?", paved the way for the partnership. When Halsey returned to Johanna Rees, the LA Phil’s vice president of programming, with Badu on board, the project was swiftly approved. Halsey's initial concept for combining objects, musicians, and large audiences had found its perfect realization, especially within her chosen venue, the Hollywood Bowl.

The timing of the event perfectly coincided with Badu and The Alchemist’s tour for their new collaborative album, “Before the World Blows,” a project that blends hip-hop, soul, jazz, and funk. Halsey described her vision to Badu as a “funk opera,” which immediately sparked Badu’s imagination. Badu recounted how Halsey's images brought the abstract concept to life, stating, “Our synergy—what we have in sync for this particular show—is funk and the world of George Clinton. Lauren’s vision is visually what George Clinton’s music is sonically. I will fill in the blanks. I trust her completely. She is a perfect partner for me. This is a perfect marriage. We speak the same language.” This shared artistic language and mutual trust formed the foundation of their successful collaboration.

Halsey views this iteration of “emajendat” not as a final product, but as a “proof of concept” or “prototype.” She envisions it as an evolving project that will continue to grow and expand. What might appear maximalist to the public is, in her mind, just the beginning. She plans to add more layers and elements each year, potentially transforming it into a city-wide park and street fair with various cultural outposts. Halsey is already anticipating future iterations, eager to continue developing and scaling her imaginative world.