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14TH ANNUAL LUMINOTHÉRAPIE: SIX NEW WORKS TO LIGHT UP THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES THIS WINTER
Montreal, November 21, 2023 – The 14th edition of Luminothérapie, produced by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership in collaboration with the Ville de Montréal, Tourisme Montréal, Montréal centre-ville and Place des Arts, will present a new series of luminous works on the theme of the cosmos. The event will include, for the first time in Canada, four installations by French creative companies and two new pieces from Montreal-based studios, including an interactive work and an original video projection based on meteorological data. From November 30 to March 10, 2024, Montrealers, visitors and downtown residents will be able to admire these majestic and colourful installations all along Sainte-Catherine Street daily from 4 to 11 p.m. This winter, people of all ages are invited to take a stroll through the Quartier des Spectacles to discover an amazing series of luminous works!
A NEW COSMOS-THEMED SERIES
Presented in Canada for the first time, Astera is an impressive installation by the TILT collective (France). The 10-metre (33 ft.) tall installation will be set up at the foot of the Place des Arts Esplanade: a giant flower that undergoes a metamorphosis and displays thousands of dazzling colours under Montreal’s starry winter sky. The public is also invited to travel to other dimensions via Parc Hydro-Québec with Planètes by French studio Pitaya. Perched in the treetops, the work’s planets form a beautiful constellation of luminous orbs. Also on Sainte-Catherine St. West, between Jeanne-Mance and Saint-Urbain streets, SOLSTICE is a monumental interactive installation designed by Iregular and built by Montreal studio Jack World; it will invite the public to take the control of the surrounding environment. Inspired by the movements of the sun and planets, the work references seasonal changes. It will transform viewers’ perspective.
The sound-and-light maelstrom of Cymopolée, by French studio Luminariste, will shine from the Place des Arts Esplanade. Cymopolée takes its name from the Greek goddess of storms and natural disasters. It will illustrate such phenomena through the emotions we may feel in response to climate change, with a light show presented twice hourly starting at 4 p.m. Lastly, Huge Reeds, a series of 10-metre (33 ft) reeds created by French studio Pitaya, will light up in shooting stars, flames and multicoloured sparks all along Sainte-Catherine St. W. between Drummond and Clark streets. Once again this winter, Luminothérapie will be spilling westwards on the territory of Montreal centre-ville, starting on 6 December. With its ever-changing lighting effects, the installation will keep the heart of downtown in a state of continuous evolution.
A NEIGHBOURHOOD IN TUNE WITH ITS ENVIRONMENT
A world-premiere production of the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, Gravitation is a generative video projection created by artist Féline B and the Rodeo FX studio. This futuristic digital work, projected on UQAM’s Pavillon Président-Kennedy and the WILDER Building - Espace Danse, will offer a changing perspective on the universe shaped by meteorological data from the previous 24 hours. The data, gathered at weather stations on Esplanade Tranquille and Place des Festivals, will provide real-time input into the generation of unique visuals that change before viewers’ eyes.
November 30, 2023, to March 10, 2024
Free, accessible daily from 4 to 11 p.m.
Sainte-Catherine St. W. between Drummond and Saint-Laurent
GETTING TO THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES
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Public transportation: the district is served by numerous bus routes and ten metro stations on the orange and green lines.
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Cycling: there are several all-season bike paths throughout the downtown core. Bike locking stations are available at Saint-Laurent metro station, a few steps from Esplanade Tranquille.
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Driving: in addition to street parking, there are five indoor garages open to the public.
Click here to plan your visit.
ABOUT LUMINOTHÉRAPIE
The Luminothérapie event presents an original, interactive and captivating winter experience in Montreal’s cultural district, the Quartier des Spectacles, with large light-and-sound installations designed specifically for public space. In 2020 and 2021, special editions were held in the Quartier with a series of works and a moment of sound and light to extend the experience. Luminothérapie is aimed at stimulating creativity in urban installations and digital art. Several cultural districts around the world have shown interest in the Quartier’s interactive art installations for public spaces, made by Montreal artists and creators. Since 2016, 14 works created for the Quartier des Spectacles have been exhibited on 165 occasions in 70 cities in 12 countries. The installations are distributed by Quartier des Spectacles International.
To learn more about the competition and the works presented in past years, see the Luminothérapie press kit.
ABOUT THE QUARTIER DES SPECTACLES AND THE PARTNERSHIP
The Quartier des Spectacles is 20 years old! The Quartier des Spectacles is Montréal’s cultural heart, boasting North America’s most concentrated and diverse group of cultural venues as well as numerous festivals and events. The Quartier also hosts innovative urban installations involving cutting-edge lighting design and immersive environments. The Quartier des Spectacles has become an international showcase for digital public art.
The Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, founded in 2003, is a non-profit organization with more than 85 members active in the district. It is responsible for animating the Quartier des Spectacles by programming cultural activities, managing and animating public spaces, providing distinctive illumination and promoting the Quartier as a must-visit cultural destination. The Partnership benefits from the support of the Ville de Montréal.
More information: quartierdesspectacles.com
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MEDIA CONTACT
Mélanie Mingotaud
Communications Mingotwo
melanie@mingo2.ca
514 582-5272
SOURCE
Chloé Goldstein
Quartier des Spectacles Partnership
chloe.goldstein@quartierdesspectacles.com
514 812-2193
APPENDICES
Credits of the works
Astera
Design and creation: TILT
A presentation by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership and Place des Arts
Planets
Concept and design: Pitaya
A presentation by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership and Tourisme Montréal, deployed at Parc Hydro-Québec
SOLSTICE
Concept and design: Iregular
Production and touring: Jack World
Sound design: Iregular
Presented by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership and Tourisme Montréal
Cymopolée
Artistic direction: Benjamin Nesme and Marc Sicard
Sound design: Camille Rocailleux and François Weber
Production: Luminariste
Co-producers: Fête des Lumières de Lyon, CNR, Constellations de Metz, Lumières Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc and Geneva Lux
Hosted by: ENSATT
Presented by Quartier des Spectacles Partnership, Tourisme Montréal and Place des Arts
Huge Reeds
Concept and creation: Pitaya
Presented by the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership and Montréal centre-ville
Gravitation
Artistic direction and creation: Féline B
Multimedia designers: Samuel Tremblay and Nicolas Dubé-Pauzé (Rodeo FX)
Producers: Marie-Piere Poulin and Sébastien Hell (Rodeo FX)
A Quartier des Spectacles Partnership production