The show was actually inspired by the pivotal confrerence that set ambitious goals to protect global ecosystems. COP15 saw the adoption of targets to reverse biodiversity loss worldwide, including commitments to conserve 30% of the planet's land and sea areas by 2030.
People sit on white rocking chairs while close-ups of chameleons are projected on screen.Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog
The exhibit begins with a room designed to make the abstracts of climate action feel personal and immediate. It messes with your senses, in a good way. If you've ever watched one of those fireplace channels and felt warmer, It's like that but with nature. You see glaciers and somehow feel cooler; rainforest scenes bring an inexplicable warmth.
Sitting in a rocking chair, you might find yourself pondering your connection to these distant ecosystems. The setup includes a soundscape to match, with the calls of distant wildlife and the rustle of leaves filling the air, synchronized perfectly with the visuals.
It makes for an engaging, interactive experience. Giant shots of the moon might throw you back to the Montreal eclipse, while a juxtaposition of stars and underwater bubbles draw parallels between celestial and aquatic realm. The whole setup is a clever way to make you feel more connected to each environment, maybe even motivated enough to want to save them.
Giant light-up crystals are interspersed between benches where viewers can sit and watch the show.Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog
As you move to the next room, the exhibit takes a turn for the abstract. Colours shift and forms flow with an almost hypnotic way, resembling a psychedelic screensaver or the insides of a lava lamp.
You can sit between light-up crystals while projected blobs move with a mind of their own. The space takes a more artistic and less literal approach to visualizing the interconnectedness of natural systems.
The third and final room cranks up the scale, immersing you in a world where glaciers float across the floor and vivid colors demand your attention. It's a bit disorienting at first, with projections hitting every surface, but it settles into a rhythm, connecting back to the themes introduced in the earlier rooms.
Light shows extend from floor to ceiling in the massive third room.Sofia Misenheimer | MTL Blog
So, if you've got an hour to spare and a hankering for something other than Netflix documentaries, Montreal's latest immersive exhibit might just be the eco-conscious escapade you didn't know you needed. It’s a reminder that even in the city, you can find a connection to the natural world — one that’s both a privilege and a responsibility.
Root for Nature
When:
- Tuesday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Wednesday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Thursday and Friday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Palais des congrès, 301, rue Saint-Antoine Ouest
Cost: $25/students, $30/general admission
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Piying shadow puppets (and viewers) walk on projected clouds.Courtesy of OASIS Immersion.
Cherry blossom peteals swirl off of trees and along the ground.Courtesy of OASIS Immersion.
A digital rendition of famous Chinese handscroll painting, "Along the River During the Qingming Festival."Courtesy of OASIS Immersion.
Sylized characters walk on the walls, while hand-drawn water sloshes around the floor of the exhibit.Courtesy of OASIS Immersion.
Japanese lanterns float all around in one part of "Dreaming of Asia."Courtesy of OASIS Immersion.
Gabi Sandler | MTL Blog
Alanna Moore | MTL Blog
Alanna Moore | MTL Blog
Alanna Moore | MTL Blog
Alanna Moore | MTL Blog
Alanna Moore | MTL Blog
