Until January 29, those willing to brave the cold streets of Montreal will have the chance go walking in a winter wonderland unlike any you’ve ever seen. Quartier Des Spectacles is offering a unique and gorgeous take on classic stories with the interactive installation art of LOOP.
Designed by Olivier Girourad, Johnathan Villeneuve, and Ottoblix, LOOP is comprised of 13 giant wheels, that when activated by users, show charming pictures in rapid succession, creating the illusion of movement. Think of it as a large, entrancing flip book that you power like an old-timey railway hand car.
Girourad and Villeneuve explained they “want to stimulate everyone’s imagination and encourage all to participate, helping people see public space differently.” It’s safe to say the artists have achieved their goal; when attending LOOP, you will witness young and old alike in a state of childlike wonder.
The experience is incredibly enchanting and will make you forget all about the chilly winter that is upon us. LOOP will transport you to a world of whimsy with every spin of every wheel, while the entire feeling of unity and community will warm your heart. The surrounding buildings are stunningly adorned with animated projections of the stories being told inside each of the wheels.
LOOP is part of Luminotherapie, a competition that strives to bring interactive, temporary public art for a winter experience unlike any other. Mayor Denis Coderre, who attended an official sneak-peak of LOOP on December 7, described the installation as “a superb cultural experience in the middle of winter, in the heart of downtown Montreal.” He continued to say “[the] installation will delight Montrealers and visitors.”
LOOP will be dazzling visitors Sunday to Wednesday from noon to 10pm, and Thursday to Saturday from noon to 11pm. The projections begin at nightfall, and the hours of operation will be shortened on Christmas eve, Christmas, New Years Eve, and New Years day, running from noon until 6pm. Be sure to visit this truly captivating installation for FREE before it closes on January 29, 2017.
Photos by: Ulysse Lemerise/OSA Images and Elspeth Wright (@elfieinmtl).
