MOOSE OF FREEDOM
Moose are solitary animals, evocative of freedom. Gathered on the Place des Arts, in the heart of the city, they become the symbol of an impromptu and moving encounter. A luminous encounter, full of magic. Each moose has its identity, its independence, its freedom. But all are moving in the same positive direction, like a herd crossing Montreal, towards Mount Royal.
Seventy black steel plates (an eco-responsible, 100% recyclable material), covered with patterns are cut and folded with simplicity and artisanal dexterity, like origami in Japanese colored paper. The ensemble composes a ballet of moose in motion, made of optical illusions, colors and lights. The three coloring technologies used to compose the patterns bring the herd to life night and day.
The fluorescent parts give the herd its dynamism and vitality by day. The reflective parts give the herd speed and astral sparkle when the square's spotlights and city lights pass by at night. The phosphorescent parts make the moose visible when all the lights go out to let the magic invade the space, to surprise and amaze the visitors (about ten minutes every hour, like an appointment).
Seen from the top of the buildings and from the surrounding streets, the global rhythm of the installation is perceptible, it wants to be moving in the manner of a contemporary fresco, punctuated by the points of colors and the lights. In the heart of the herd, on the square, a feeling of belonging to a history invades us. A force of nature.
In addition to the interactivity caused by the lights and the visitors' movements, some moose are equipped with motion sensors. These trigger a sound design and the reading of a chapter (a few seconds) of a philosophical tale (for all). This tale was designed to be read in any order. Each chapter can be followed by any other chapter, so that each visitor reinvents his or her own tale as he or she crosses the Place des Arts.
The route through the square has been designed in accordance with this philosophy and artistic direction: freedom, naturalness, rhythm, playfulness, magic. Even if there is no predefined path, there is a path: that of each one. Like an impulse of freedom.
Please note: the story, the motifs and the final shape of the moose are being finalized. They will be presented in detail at the next stage of the contest.
The concept: the idea
A herd of moose, like a force of nature, invades the urban space, alive, moving, invigorating, evoking freedom. As they enter the square, the tribe lights up, sucking in modernity, humanity and the surrounding culture. Appropriating the heart of the city, it provokes an impromptu encounter, a playful experience with the passers-by. The Place des Festival becomes the symbolic rallying point of nature and the urban, the tribal and the contemporary, the wild and the cultural. A show in which everyone participates by crossing the square, by mingling with the animals, their colors, their shadows and their luminescence.
The concept : the realization
The impulse of freedom provoked by the herd is correlated to a multidisciplinary implementation mixing raw and handcrafted slender structures, the creation of unique and dynamic patterns, a scripted lighting design, a bright, weatherproof and luminous impression.
Moose: origami design
From near and far, the moose silhouettes must be identifiable at first glance, by all. Designed as origami folds, the steel structures representing the moose are stylized and minimalist in order to highlight the main characteristics of the animal: its wide and flat antlers, its long snout, its "bell", its long legs, its high shoulders, its refined muscles.
How moose are made
Designed like origami, the moose are cut in one piece, from a 1/8" steel plate, before being perforated to draw their folds, then folded and sealed. Eric Filteau and the M.O. workshop team will fabricate these structures as true works of art.
Thanks to their experience in public space (notably street furniture for the city of New York) and their realizations of contemporary artworks, the moose are designed with the best aesthetic vs. security compromises; respect of the concept vs. simplicity of fabrication.
The Patterns
From animal skins to tree bark to the leaves of certain plants, nature is full of shapes, colors and patterns. Perrine Rousselet, graphic artist, is inspired by these. By reinterpreting these forms, new geometries, rhythms and optical illusions are revealed. In contact with the city, the wilderness takes an artistic turn.
The printing
Digital printing on vinyl provides a wide variety of powerful solutions. Thanks to the expertise and high-resolution printers of Michel Gauthier at Motamo, the printing of the motifs is optimal in every respect: resistance (to weathering and vandalism), quality of the color rendering, multiplicity and luminescence of the vinyl supports. The vinyls are glued directly to the primer-coated steel.
Lighting design
The lighting effects designed by Marc-André Roy are simple and evocative of freedom, full of emotion. Inspired by natural light and the colors of life, the lighting invites the passerby/spectator to a great journey in pursuit of the herd, in full migration. Multicolored LED light sources and projections from the Megastructures join the urban light sources present in the square.
Every hour, a ten-minute sequence begins, like a rendezvous: a real light scenography highlighting the vitality of the herd.
The projected colors react to the colors of the patterns to create movement and visual vibrations.
The use of the Megastructures allows the installation of rented equipment:
- 4 automated 1500 watt projectors - CLAY PAKY Alpha Spot 1500
- 72 PAR 72 watt LED projectors - xFOCUS PAR72 RGBA
- with an automatic programmable lighting console - MA Lighting GrandMA 2 ultra light or OnPC
The Place des Festivals Experience
Seen from the top of the buildings and from the surrounding streets, the overall rhythm of the installation is perceptible, it is meant to be moving in the manner of a contemporary work of art, punctuated by spikes of color and light. In the heart of the herd, on the square, a feeling of belonging to a general movement invades us. A force of nature.
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
The jury liked the idea of nature and the tribal and wild aspect that contrasts with the city. The aesthetic is different, more figurative than in previous years. The "paper cut" aspect and the artisanal aspect were also appreciated by the members of the jury. The colorful aspect and the quality of the graphic execution are the strong points of the proposal. The installation is on a human scale.
In Step 2, the team did a good job of demonstrating the great reflectivity possibilities offered by the materials used. The presentation was convincing on this level. The materialization had a lot of potential.
In the first stage, the jury members had pointed out that several things were happening at the level of interactivity and that this would benefit from being linked more specifically to this notion of "herd crossing Montreal". The experiential component was weaker in the proposal. However, in step 2, the team preferred to present a contemplative work only, thus leaving out the interactive component. Since the experience with the public remains at the heart of this competition, the jury was unanimously disappointed with this orientation.
(From jury report)
(Unofficial automated translation)
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