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9 X [MTL]: NINE STUNNING PORTRAITS OF MONTREAL PROJECTED ON BUILDING FAÇADES
_Press release - For immediate release_
Montreal, May 4, 2015 – New video projections featuring Montreal scenes are about to illuminate nine building façades in the Quartier des Spectacles. Titled 9 x [MTL], the projections will immerse viewers in a surrealistic world through animated photomontages of the city’s iconic people, places and events.
The colourful work was created by two accomplished Montreal-based motion designers, Gabriel Poirier-Galarneau and Vincent Bilodeau.
“Our goal was to create an audio-visual canvas that evokes Montreal and the moments that have marked the city’s history, but without using narrative or didactic techniques,” says Poirier-Galarneau. “Starting from a selection of the most inspiring images, we created textured graphical scenes. The result is a funny, slightly crazy animated collage.”
The artists did an enormous amount of research, studying thousands of documents from the municipal archives and the McCord Museum, covering the period from the 1920s to the present day. Viewers will see the Montreal skyline, Expo ‘67, Mount Royal, the Red Light District, the Canadiens, the metro, and some of the people who have left a lasting mark on the city’s history – from Wilfrid Pelletier to Denis Coderre, Jean Drapeau and Jean Doré – in unusual scenes.
“Year after year, the Quartier des Spectacles refreshes its creative offerings, keeping it a leader in the digital arts,” said Jacques Primeau, chair of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership’s board of directors. “We are very proud to give artists the opportunity to explore this art form to its fullest potential and to give the public unique and exciting visual experiences.”
The unveiling of 9 x [MTL] will take place on May 7 during the inauguration of Les Jardins Gamelin, alongside the unveiling of the hanging sculpture 1.26 by American artist Janet Echelman.
A NEW VIDEO PROJECTION SITE: PLACE DUPUIS
Place Dupuis will become the ninth façade among the permanent video projection sites in the Quartier des Spectacles thanks to a collaboration between BUSAC – the owner and manager of Place Dupuis – and the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership. In order to prepare the building to host the projections, a perforated microfilm was applied to the windows on its western façade. The work to be projected there will include the elements presented at all of the other projection sites.
Video projection sites in the Quartier des Spectacles — the world’s largest permanent network of sites dedicated to digital art!
- Grande Bibliothèque (Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec)
- Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) bell tower
- Centre de design – UQAM
- Cégep du Vieux Montréal
- Théâtre Maisonneuve
- Pavillon Président-Kennedy – UQAM
- Hôtel Zéro 1, Place de la Paix
- Wall outside Saint-Laurent metro station
- Place Dupuis
GABRIEL POIRIER-GALARNEAU AND VINCENT BILODEAU
Gabriel Poirier-Galarneau started his career as a motion designer in 2002, drawing inspiration from his passion for photomontage, theatrical improvisation and music. Since then he has won several awards in Montreal, New York and Los Angeles as a director of branding and opening sequences for television, along with music videos and advertisements. His many clients include ARTV, ICI Radio-Canada, the National Gallery of Canada, Moment Factory, Urbania, Philippe B, Ariane Moffatt and Yann Perreau. The artist is a Quartier des Spectacles “regular”: he has presented several video projections there, including Figures scientifiques and Le cycle de l’eau, for UQAM, and Trouve Bob (Luminothérapie 2013-2014), produced with his collective, Champagne Club Sandwich, winner of the 2015 Grand Prix Grafika.
Website: gabrielpg.com
Vincent Bilodeau has completed hundreds of motion design projects. His portfolio boasts many noteworthy original works, including projections, music videos, web videos, television graphics and advertisements. He has created works for Telefilm Canada, Karim Ouellet, Metric, Toyota, Adidas, and many more. His productions include projections for Rihanna and Jay-Z concerts.
Website: vincentbilodeau.com
Practical details
9 X [MTL] On 9 building façades in the Quartier des Spectacles May 7 to 31, 2015 Sunday to Thursday: nightfall to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday: nightfall to 1 a.m.
The inauguration of Les Jardins Gamelin and 9 x [MTL] will take place on May 7 starting at 5:30 p.m.
(the video projection will presented after sunset)
Designers: Gabriel Poirier-Galarneau and Vincent Bilodeau
Sound design: Tim Crawshaw
Archival materials courtesy of the Ville de Montréal and the McCord Museum
A production of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership
ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES
The Quartier des Spectacles is Montreal’s cultural heart, boasting North America’s most concentrated and diverse group of cultural venues. The district is the year-round host to countless festivals and events, many of which include free outdoor shows and activities.
The Quartier hosts innovative urban installations involving cutting-edge lighting design, immersive environments or interactive digital spaces. It presents artistic video projections on several building façades year round. A showcase for new multimedia technology, the Quartier des Spectacles positions Montreal as a global leader in the urban exhibition of digital content.
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Media enquiries: Marie-Joëlle Corneau
marie-joelle.corneau@quartierdesspectacles.com | 514 348-9676
