Interactive public art illuminates winter in Montreal -

Luminothérapie is Quebec’s largest competition for temporary installations. Organized in two parts, its purpose is to present an original, interactive wintertime experience for visitors to the Quartier des Spectacles, and to stimulate creativity in urban installations and digital art.

Until February 1, 2015, Montrealers and visitors are invited to discover two new works, Prismatica by RAW Design and Fascinoscope by Lüz Studio, both selected by the juries of the fifth annual Luminothérapie competition.

Prismatica by Toronto-based architectural firm RAW Design comprises of 50 pivoting prisms more than two metres tall, transforming the Place des Festivals into a giant kaleidoscope. The prisms are made of panels laminated with a dichronic film that transmits and reflects every colour in the visible spectrum, varying with the position of the light source and the observer. The prisms are mounted on bases containing projectors. As visitors wander among and manipulate the prisms, they will enjoy an infinite interplay of lights and colourful reflections. As the prisms rotate, a variable-intensity soundtrack comprised of bell sounds will play.

Prismatica by RAW Design

“Luminothérapie brings a playful, creative touch to winter in the Quartier des Spectacles. By presenting new works every year, the event democratizes public interactive art and makes it an integral part of Montreal’s DNA. It is an exceptional calling card for our city, helping it earn an excellent reputation among cities that are distinguishing themselves as cultural centres,” said Jacques Primeau, chair of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership.

Fascinoscope by Lüz Studio, a Montreal-based visual design company consists of eight permanent video projection sites in the Quartier des Spectacles that evoke the atmosphere of an early 20^th-century carnival. Each projection is accompanied by an original soundtrack of organ, bass and drum music.

Outside Saint-Laurent metro station, the work’s focal point, the public is invited to play four interactive games inspired by carnival classics. Players control the games with four small punching bags fitted with sensors that measure their rotation and speed. By punching the bags, players interact with the projection and score points to win the game.

The interactive games (outside Saint-Laurent metro station) which can be played by maximum 4 players are:

Poulets en cavale: inspired by the classic shooting gallery, this “chicken run” game is all about accuracy. Players must punch the bag at just the right moment to knock over the passing chickens.

Les fulgurantes machines volantes: in this flying-machine frenzy, each punching bag controls a hot-air balloon. Players try to make their balloon rise faster than the others by activating the controller non-stop.

Le maître de l’illusion: inspired by Whack-a-Mole, the “master of illusion” game depicts 8 magicians’ hats from which items pop up. Players try to use the magic wand, controlled with the punching bag, to make the items disappear.

Le charmeur de serpents: inspired by tests of strength, this snake-charmer game shows wicker baskets from which snakes emerge. Players must make their snake stretch as high as possible to ring a bell.

“I am once again proud to say that Montreal’s reputation extends well beyond our borders, and that as a UNESCO City of Design, the city is attracting a great deal of interest from creators. Luminothérapie is an important platform for the next generation of designers and a gathering place for all Montrealers and visitors. It democratizes art and encourages discussion,” said Manon Gauthier, the Ville de Montréal’s executive committee member responsible for culture, heritage, design, Space for Life and the status of women.

The video projection sites:

Pavillon Président-Kennedy at UQAM, like a giant circus tent, will show acrobats performing in a dizzying landscape of optical illusions, in which perspective loses all meaning.

Théâtre Maisonneuve will become a magic lantern with a giant carousel on which images unfurl as if on a zoetrope.

At Place de la Paix, visitors will watch the construction of flying machines for a grand trip around the world in 80 days.

The Centre de design at UQAM will feature a Moulin Rouge-style cabaret setting.

Cégep du Vieux Montréal will present the hypnotizer, which will enthral passers-by with a series of psychedelic optical illusions based on spheres and infinite spirals. Not for the faint of heart!