Posted on january 26th, 2021
By Yohann Goyat
By Yohann Goyat
![]() OASIS immersion is the sensation of the start of the year 2021 in Montreal. This new immersive installation has taken up residence at the Palais des congrès de Montréal with a space dedicated to digital technologies of more than 2,000 square meters. OASIS immersion will present ambulatory experiences which will be renewed every six months. Each of the themes and topics covered will highlight the people, places and ideas that inspire our world. Astronaut David Saint-Jacques, pianist Alexandra Stréliski and Youtubeur Émile Roy are the headliners of the first exhibition, entitled Inspirations.
“OASIS immersion is like an immersive cultural magazine” in the words of Denys Lavigne, president, creative director and co-founder of the project. Each theme is approached from different angles and by different subjects through the prism in an optimistic way. For this, audiovisual work takes a prominent place in order to provide a unique experience for visitors, as explained by Johnny Ranger, deputy creative director and Manuel Chantre, composer and contributor to an audio segment of the Inspirations exhibition. A crescendo experience The course was created in to give the visitor a progressive and multidimensional experience: the theme and the subjects are approached in each gallery but in a different way. “The first gallery is a kind of context, introduction to the theme and presentation of the subjects of the exhibition; the aim is to introduce the visitor to the many aspects of the OASIS immersion universe, ”explains Denys Lavigne. For this, the audio approach aims to welcome our visitors in a way, and to frame the decidedly feel good spirit of the experience. Gallery 2, called the Teleporter, puts visitors in a situation with the subjects, as if they were there, but with a touch of poetry and contemplation, especially in terms of sound. The final gallery, called Panorama, represents the cornerstone of the experience and relies more on a form of storytelling, with each subject being the subject of an immersive mini essay. In the end, each gallery completes and gives more meaning and life to the people, places and ideas presented there. From an audio perspective, so crucial in the context of an immersive experience, one of the objectives has been to create a tone, mood and emotional charge suited to the subjects and the role of the gallery: “The challenge is to find the right tone. , and this optimal link between the images, the subject and the sound environment should not be underestimated; it’s really all about the subtle nuances, ”says Johnny Ranger. "As much as we wanted to surprise people in the approach, it was still important to keep this spirit Zen, fun and emotional "OASIS immersion aims to provide an inspiring look at our world, here and now. And we do it through a variety of treatments, with moments that are sometimes more zen, playful, more thoughtful, even more emotional, ”explains Denys Lavigne. This vocation has also materialized in the technical choices. “The intimate aspect of the experience, especially from an audio point of view, was fundamental to us. This is why we have favored components that are closer to the "studio" approach than to the "arena" approach, continues Denys Lavigne. Consequently, the sound tracks and the intensity of these go in crescendo and intermingle with delicacy and subtlety. For example, for the Téléporteur gallery, Manuel Chantre and Johnny Ranger carried out a work of surgical precision, to release a form of mystery and an inspiring poetry. As with the content related to astronaut David Saint-Jacques: "For this kind of content of a more" scientific "nature, we have chosen to take the subject elsewhere, and to add something more ambient and atmospheric" adds Johnny Ranger. Manuel Chantre completes: “The challenge has been to create musical universes navigating in territories that we do not expect. The idea is to surprise, as soon as it is predictable, it becomes less interesting for the artist, but also for the visitors ”. Showcase the talent here One of the missions of the OASIS immersion project is to promote the talent of here, whether it is designers, designers, musicians, sound and image technicians. “There is a huge pool of talented creatives in Quebec, and we want to be able to help make this talent shine in the context of our immersive experiences. Nearly a hundred artisans contributed to the first exhibition and we are extremely proud of it, ”adds Denys Lavigne. The OASIS immersion team is ready to welcome its first visitors as soon as public health guidelines allow. Sanitary protocols are in place and the ambulatory, non-contacting nature of the experience will provide a safe visit. In short, an innovative concept that should inspire more than one for years to come, both in the immersive aspect of the platform and in the stories evoked and highlighted in each edition. Information, tickets and podcast: www.oasis.im |