MAPP_MTL, the festival of luminous video frescoes (commonly called video mapping) which combines ambitious screenings in the Quartier des Spectacles and “neighborhood parties” under the Van Horne overpass, begins its seventh edition on Wednesday.
We will present creations that are both more intimate and more ambitious than those that generally adorn the walls of the metropolis. A way to highlight the creative bubbling that makes Montreal a global hotspot in the field.
“Each time we propose projects to the Quartier des Spectacles, for example, we try to push the limits of what we can present,” explains Thien Vu Dang, founder and general and artistic director of the festival. With MAPP, he wants to energize public spaces, but also surprise.
Thus, the work Effects of Influence, by the Slovak artist Boris Vitazek, presented on the facade of the Wilder building from September 22, will perhaps “disturb” the public, he says. “The artist deals with our impact on the environment, but visually, what he proposes can be disturbing. We took that risk: it’s one of the raison d’être of art and of our festival,” he notes.
The potential of projections
The man who started performing as a video jockey in the early 2000s is enthusiastic about the “infinite” potential of video projections. He acknowledges, however, that the luminous murals may be associated more with flashy entertainment than with artistic creation worthy of the name. With MAPP, the image maker wants to restore this medium to its former glory.
“From our first edition, we presented the work of the Brazilian artist VJ Suave. The artist rides his bike and animates, then projects his images, live, according to what he crosses on his way, it’s very intimate and personal,” says Thien Vu Dang.
MAPP, which holds events outside the festival all year round, again presented the work of VJ Suave last week in the borough of Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie. We can also see him again during the festival.
Thien Vu Dang is also proud of his “MAPP minutes”. As part of this part of the festival presented since 2013, luminous video frescoes lasting one minute each are presented one after the other on the facade of Million Tapis et tiles, in front of the Van Horne skate park. “You can see a great diversity of proposals and ideas there. People have carte blanche,” he explains.
The Van Horne skateboard park also serves as the festival’s headquarters, while MAPP organizes “digital block parties” there from Thursday to Saturday. Until 10 p.m., DJs will host these evenings during which creations will be projected on each side of this emblematic Mile End venue.
Montreal, a mecca for “mapping”
Thanks to MAPP and the many monumental projections that illuminate the city throughout the year, Montreal has become a “world capital of mapping », says Thien Vu Dang with joy.
Some critics insist, however, on the importance of harmonizing the projections with the real needs of the districts, and of presenting content that goes beyond simple entertainment.
In his test Spooky Montreal. Or the dark side of urban light animations, published last February, the art historian specializing in urban studies Josianne Poirier defends, among other things, the idea of doing useful work with luminous fresco projects. The author also deplores that these works, eminently visible in the public space, “are not considered artistic” or relevant when they highlight a cause, a movement or a social group, could we read in the pages of To have tolast February.
For his part, Thien Vu Dang notes that Montreal is welcoming more and more studios of ” video mapping to various socio-political concerns.
Marie-Pier Veilleux, director of public relations and international affairs for Moment Factory, explains in particular that her company — a Quebec flagship in the field whose reputation is second to none — strives to present “more and more projects sustainable” and “LED lighting” with a lower ecological footprint.
Be that as it may, according to her, the Quebec metropolis enjoys cultural particularities that make it a leader in this area: “ [À Montréal, qui est] straddling a very American need to flash, to make grandiose projects, and a European sophistication, the projects have always been particularly creative. »
And for now, many new works will be presented at MAPP_MTL from September 21 to 25.