The newborn of OASIS Immersion, co-created with The National Geographic, has finally seen the light of day. Vivid Nature – Root For Nature in English, which moreover reflects the approach of the creators much better – is an immersive journey resulting from the COP15 agreement on biodiversity, signed in Montreal last year by nearly 200 countries.
We can speak of a creative relay to a political agreement, the main objective of which is to protect 30% of the planet’s terrestrial and marine areas by 2030.
The creative team, led by Sam Greffe-Bélanger, set itself the mission of creating a multimedia journey capable of moving and inspiring spectators about their capacity for change. At a time of great environmental disappointments and the very small steps that we are taking, let’s say that the exercise is quite a challenge.
Designed to raise visitors’ awareness of the planet’s major environmental issues, the three rooms dedicated to this immersive exhibition – with 360-degree projections – are preceded by relevant explanatory information, in order to clearly define the issues, target the challenges, to measure the road ahead, to recognize the little progress.
The first room plunges us into the heart of this nature that surrounds us. In a relatively slow progression, we go from the land to the tropical forest, via the savannah and the seabed. The red thread ofA regenerating world, directed by Katerine Giguère and Johnny Ranger? The emphasis is placed on the eyes of the living beings that we meet.
PHOTO JEAN-PHILIP LESSARD, PROVIDED BY OASIS IMMERSION
The eyes of living things that are part of the National Geographic collection are shown in extreme close-ups.
Whether it is a frog, an owl, an eagle, a tiger or a monkey, the images – taken from the National Geographic collection – the camera focuses on the eyes. As if they (the animals) were watching us (or judging us for our inaction!). All this with the enveloping music of Anaïs Larocque, Jérémie Corriveau and Frédéric Bouchard.
The second room, We are dreamlike, designed by Frenchman Alex Le Guillou, is much more contemplative. We are reminded that we are all interconnected – have we forgotten that? The projections are more abstract. We can’t say that the emotion wins us over, but the electronic dub music of the Franco-Tunisian artist Azu Tiwaline creates an interesting hypnotic atmosphere.
The third section, the most consistent, is certainly the most interesting, from our point of view. It is, at least, the one that fulfills all the objectives of the creative direction.
Directed by Émile Roy, Let us rise in the face of challenges is both visually stunning – with ground mapping and magnificent landscapes that pass before our eyes, giving us the impression of moving forward – and beautifully scripted, with more fleshed-out content.
It is the Innu poet Joséphine Bacon who provides the narration and who conveys the emotions in this segment. She will tell us, among other things, that the word “nature” does not exist in Innu-aimun. She uses the word “noushimit”, which could be translated as “inland”. “This land doesn’t belong to me,” she said. But I belong to this land. »
Insights into initiatives
We will also see environmental activist David Suzuki, whose foundation – now run by his daughter Severn – helped create the multimedia tour (as did the Age of Union Environmental Alliance). We see him in particular conversing with his daughter and his grandson Tiisaan. It is notably a question of “action as an antidote to despair”.
This segment of approximately 30 minutes offers a nice balance between information, emotion and visual effects. This is undoubtedly the culmination of the research presented in the two previous rooms.
We discover some of the nature regeneration initiatives which have borne fruit in recent years. Whether it is the fight against illegal fishing on the African coasts – which endangers many species of fish –, the end of the exploration of the Arctic refuge or even the case of the numerous animal species threatened in Australia, there is progress, and we highlight it.
This is also the third room which will be open for the Nuit blanche, Saturday.
The co-founder of OASIS, Denys Lavigne, who is betting a lot on this exhibition, of course hopes to make it travel. Officially, Vivid Nature is presented until May 31, but Mr. Lavigne confirms that it will certainly be extended until Labor Day weekend. Subsequently, he hopes that it can be presented elsewhere in the world. Announcements will be made to this effect in the coming months, he indicated.
Vivid Nature is presented at OASIS Immersion until May 31.
Visit the page of Vivid Nature