Virtual reality and relaxation at the Phi Center

Virtual reality and augmented reality are on the holiday program at the Phi Center. With an immersive video, We Live in an Ocean of Air, and four free experiences: an intimate listening to current music in an almost oriental atmosphere, a journey of characters who appear here and there in the building, a poetic river with Joséphine Bacon and nods to black creativity in Montreal .

Eric Clement
Press

We Live in an Ocean of Air, by Marshmallow Laser Feast (UK), 20 min

We had already seen In The Eyes of The Animal, from Marshmallow Laser Feast, three years ago. We had liked moderately. But this new multisensory experience, which evokes our attachment to nature, is much better. We move in a defined space, in the heart of Sequoia National Park, in California, near a huge tree whose top you cannot see. At the same time, you have the impression of being immersed in an aquatic, forest and aerial world. We feel the wind, we see swirls of “little papers”. The ground is slipping away. We find ourselves in a vacuum. We interact with virtual plants that start to move, to disintegrate. The visit takes place in groups of a maximum of six people who we try not to touch. Each person is equipped with heart rate monitors and breathing sensors, installed on their wrists. We have the impression of seeing his blood in virtual! The musical experience can be meditative or athletic. It all depends on your mood that day. Note that it is better to reserve your place.

Appearance, by Acute Art

Appearance is an augmented reality journey that you take with your cell phone as you walk through the Phi building, both on the ground floor and on the roof! It is a production of Acute Art, a British group of international artists, with eight works by New York mixed reality specialist Darren Bader, Canadian artist based in London Marco Brambilla, Korean artist Koo Jeong A and Bjarne Melgaard, Australian artist based in Norway. With the phone, we scan a QR code to load the application. In each location, you see characters appear on your screen around whom you can move around. He looks at you and follows your gaze by turning his head if you change position! An interesting activity for families. And it’s for all ages, since it is not necessary to use a virtual reality headset.

Sound habitat

So here, welcome to relaxation enthusiasts! Sound habitat is a free immersive sound space, in which we rest, slumped in cushions, enveloped in a radiant red atmosphere, while listening to music of different styles broadcast by a state-of-the-art stereo system. A kind of alternative platform to broadcast artists from the local music scene.

Currently, three atmospheres are broadcast. Revisit, with musicians Joyfultalk, T. Gowdy and Markus Floats. The segment En Primeur is dedicated to Jessica Moss and Light Conductor. And the sequence Retrospective includes 25 pieces celebrating 25 years of the Constellation label. The installation is also a collaboration of Phi with the firm Constellation Records. Another collaboration will be tested in a few weeks in this space, after the current programming.

Water road

Water road is an installation by Studio Phi, placed until spring in the windows of the four floors of the facade of the Phi Center, at 407, rue Saint-Pierre. It refers to the ancient Saint-Pierre River, which flowed where Phi now stands. But also to the meaning of Montreal in the Mohawk language, Tiohà: ke, “where currents meet”. The installation is a collaboration with the poet Joséphine Bacon, whose poetic extracts can be read in the window overlooking the sidewalk. We can appreciate this water route especially in the evening or at night, when the installation is lit. It forms a fall which starts from the 4^e floor and lands on the ground floor.

In flux: poetry films

Phi had the idea of ​​inviting artists, filmmakers and creators from the black communities of Montreal to propose video projects – poetry films – on the theme of black creativity. Bethyna Saint Laurent, Ms. Mucyo, and Christian Boakye-Agyeman were chosen to lead designer teams, resulting in three short five-minute films. Spontaneous achievements that are broadcast until January 9. Close to the viewing facility were displayed magnificent, life-size portraits of the creators ofIn flow. Photos by Montreal artist Mallory Lowe Mpoka. Here is a very interesting section. The interest is there, the quality of the images too, the idea ofIn flux: poetry films is a great initiative to get to know black Montreal designers better, but we’re still a little bit unsatisfied! As always when it’s good!

In flow, until January 9 at the PHI Center; We Live in an Ocean of Air, Apparition and Sound habitat, until January 16; Water road, until May 24