TIME & SPACE CUBE: Between Mirrors and Dimensions
Navigating a world of illusions, and what I learned from the people who created them
I arrived at TIME & SPACE CUBE, an attraction that, according to online reviews, usually has long lines and "great photo opportunities." From what I had read, it was a series of mirror mazes and optical illusion rooms—a type of experience I know and love. My natural curiosity pulled me in, eager to see what made this place unique.
Since it was the middle of the week, I bought my ticket at the entrance after checking that the price was the same as online—₱800 ($14). Luckily, there was no line, and as if stepping through a magic door, I suddenly found myself in an entire world of fantasy.
I thought I had already seen rooms like these—a mirror room with colorful balls that reminded me of Yayoi Kusama’s exhibition I had visited before, and another room that projected a moving video across the entire space, making me feel as if I were riding SpongeBob’s rollercoaster or floating on Aladdin’s magic carpet. It was similar to DREAMSCAPE in Melbourne, except here, you don’t actually move, which can be a bit disorienting for your balance. Especially for someone like me, who is sensitive to motion.
Still, the experience was wonderful. Whenever I started feeling a bit dizzy, I simply shifted my gaze to different parts of the room and focused mainly on taking photos. I took so many that I nearly drained my smart glasses’ battery. I found a cozy seating area and waited for them to charge a little. Thankfully, they charge at lightning speed—otherwise, I would have missed out on some of the magic.
I wandered through different mirror rooms. "We meet again!" I thought with a smile as I entered a mirror maze. "How did I used to be scared of this?" I chuckled to myself, remembering the little girl who used to get confused and anxious, trapped between endless reflections.
Moving on, I found an area with a floor game that required jumping between squares. Before I knew it, I was hopping around, laughing like a little kid, completely forgetting that I’m an adult in a public place.
In most rooms, I managed with selfies and photos from my smart glasses, but in some, it was impossible to capture good shots alone. In the past, I would have avoided asking for help, afraid of bothering strangers. But recently, I’ve realized something important—it’s not as much of a “burden” as I thought.
So, I casually approached a group of friendly girls and asked them to take my picture. They happily agreed and even took photos with so much enthusiasm and attention to detail, as if we were lifelong friends. It reinforced my belief that the world is full of kind people who are happy to help—if only we ask.
Then, I reached the most breathtaking part of the exhibition—the one that made me stop in awe. This was the section that earned this exhibition the title of “the most incredible one I’ve ever seen.”
While the exhibition incorporated elements from other places I had visited, this part stood out as a true masterpiece of digital art.
It was a long, immersive room where a video projection surrounded you from every angle, constantly shifting between different themes. One moment, terrifying dinosaurs were chasing me; the next, I was in a post-apocalyptic world. But without a doubt, the best part was the space scene.
Just then, one of the staff members noticed I was alone and immediately offered to take pictures for me. He was incredibly kind and professional, directing me with precise instructions: “Walk from here to there,” “Look up,” “Raise your head.”
He made sure to time the shots perfectly and kept going, even as I started feeling a little guilty about taking up so much of his time. But he kept insisting, “Wait, the next part is even better,” or “Just one more, this one’s amazing.” He made me feel like the center of the universe—which, ironically, fit perfectly with the scene playing around me.
I’m not sure if the dizziness I felt in the video is visible on camera, but spending so much time in that immersive space definitely messed with my balance. I felt myself swaying, unsure where to look to stabilize my vision.
Still, it was an extraordinary experience—even beyond the photos I got. As I walked through these intricately designed rooms, I found myself thinking about the artists behind them.
Most visitors come here just to take photos, but someone—probably many someone—spent endless hours creating these digital worlds, designing every room, and planning every experience.
I felt a deep urge to pause, watch, and truly appreciate the content beyond the Instagram-worthy visuals. Maybe it’s because I’m a creator myself, but I noticed that most people just took a picture and moved on, never actually watching the full video projections or appreciating the art itself.
"No one cares," I hear my older brother’s voice in my head. He always keeps me grounded, and I know he’s right.
And yet, I can’t help but wonder—why do I care?
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Incredible video! I feel you! Thank you for sharing.
Five stars!