Colorado Mills Mall, a more than one million square foot behemoth of brightly lit Nike outlets, expensively moody Urban Outfitters, and fragrant Auntie Anne’s, hosts an unlikely and refreshingly unique gem. Nestled between a gorilla-themed boba tea shop and a Van’s shoe store is Prismajic’s interactive art installation Shiki Dreams.  

For over ten years Prismajic has dedicated itself to building immersive art installations to not only uplift and represent artistic creation, but also to make physical and visual art accessible to art lovers of the nation. Shiki Dreams originally started as a pop-up installation in 2019, and as of December 2023 has a permanent installation space in Colorado Mills Mall. The immersive artistic feat is the result of a collective 27 local artistsi – President of Prismajic, Jennifer Mosquera, shares that there is a running list of artists who are continuing to add to the collaborative installation.   

Shiki Dreams begins in the form of a short video (narrated by Masaya Okubo) which provides context to the background of the installation’s namesake; a Yeti of Himalayan folklore named Shiki. The video explains the three rooms of the installation, one of which lies behind the double doors which mark the start of the installation as Shiki’s “real world,” including his hut. The other two rooms to the right and left of the installation serve as Shiki’s “dreams.”  

President Mosquera cited the inspiration for Shiki as he exists within the installation space, “Shiki in Japanese means the 4 seasons, which is the essence of our magical hero. He is at one with nature, and has all the wisdom and knowledge of nature as he flows through the cycles of time.” 

Each attendee is equipped with a “magic” (blacklight) flashlight they can use to uncover secrets within the three rooms of Shiki Dreams. Guests may also choose from three scavenger hunts, ranging from easy to difficult, and hunt for specific items hidden within the artwork, such as tiny clay sculpted mandrakes throughout the three rooms, or crystalline owls concealed in pockets and nondescript holes in the walls of the installation.  

Stepping past the double doors transports attendees from the carpeted mediocrity of Colorado Mills Mall to a new reality completely, one infused with the sounds of unseen animal life and intriguingly dim lighting, perfect to reveal the purple invisible ink clues scattered throughout the installation. One particularly interesting element within Shiki Dreams is the inclusion of invisible ink Yeti tracks: When a guest shines their “magic flashlight” at the ground looking for clues they’ll uncover the footprints of a massive mystical Yeti in several areas throughout the exhibit. Should attendees step within the tracks of the Yeti, the installation has a tangible reaction, for instance, lights turning on, sound effects, or even a small spray of water upon the enchanted party.  

Shiki Dreams hosts endless creativity from its local artists and a wealth of care and dedication from its founder. Mosquera shared her overall hope for visitors of the installation, “…It is my hope that what our guests discover is a few moments of peace, and if they are open to it, an opportunity to commune with themselves.”  

Shiki Dreams is available to visit Wednesday through Sunday for the remainder of 2025 at Colorado Mills Mall, 14500 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80401.