Following the historic signing of the COP15 agreements, which many have referred to as the “Montréal moment”, a brand new immersive exhibition called Root for Nature, produced and traveled by OASIS Immersive Studios in collaboration with National Geographic, is now open to the public.
The exhibition immerses visitors in an interpretation of biodiversity, featuring immersive digital art, thematic scenography, and informative and educational zones. The program is a sensory experience in the heart of nature, designed to inspire visitors of all ages to take positive action in the face of major biodiversity issues. The sensory journey is now being presented at OASIS Immersion, at Palais des congrès de Montréal.
Root for Nature is meant to be a moment suspended in time, a moving experience that underscores the importance of preserving the balance of our beautiful planet. It also encourages us to act in support of the COP15 commitments to protect 30 per cent of all ecosystems by 2030.
The production of this immersive experience brought together a number of organizations with an interest in conservation, sustainable development, storytelling and exhibitions, including the United Nations, the David Suzuki Foundation, Workshops for Biodiversity, Age of Union Environmental Alliance, Palais des congrès de Montréal, Tourisme Montréal, WSP and National Geographic.
“Root for Nature was born out of an initial collaboration with the OASIS Immersion team that seduced COP15 delegates from all over the world: an immersion in the splendor of the planet’s ecosystems as a reminder of the shared mission of COP15,” said Anthony Luckett, vice president of business development at National Geographic. “We’re excited to be working together, this time for the general public, to present an innovative, inspiring and supportive perspective on the preservation of our majestic biodiversity.”
Three audiovisual works are integrated into informative and educational zones. They offer three interpretations of biodiversity issues, exploring topics that are more relevant than ever. For approximately 90 minutes, this total immersion in the beauty and fragility of our natural world provides a sensory journey that is both rejuvenating and engaging.
Conceived by Katerine Giguère in collaboration with Johnny Ranger, with Anaïs Larocque and Jérémie Corriveau to Music Direction, this first panel of the Root for Nature exhibition features striking images from National Geographic. It is an invitation to reconnect with nature, to immerse oneself in its splendor, its grandeur, and its rich diversity.
Here, digital art and science come together to illustrate a fundamental principle: the interconnected ecological and human worlds. Using generative digital creation techniques, visual artist Alex Le Guillou‘s experience accompanied by Azu Tiwaline to Music Direction invites visitors to explore how every element of nature, from tiny organic cells to vast root networks, is connected in a complex and vital dance.
The final tableau of the Root for Nature exhibition is a living mosaic of nature’s resilience and human ingenuity. Directed by Émile Roy with Uberko to Music Direction, this immersive work, enriched by encounters with David Suzuki, Joséphine Bacon, and others, illustrates how concerted efforts can transform our relationship with the Earth and reverse destructive cycles.
After the immersive experience, visitors are invited to the OASIS Immersion Lounge, which has been transformed into the Regenaration Lounge for the occasion. On the agenda are five workshops organized by Ateliers pour la Biodiversité, designed to raise awareness of the impact of human activities on biodiversity, provide tips for conservation in our daily lives, and information on how to get involved in the process of protecting land with local and national authorities.
Finally, in the exit corridor, also known as the decompression chamber, participants are invited to bring coral back to life through the collective “Chromatic Prints.” This installation, carried out with the support of Montreal engineering firm WSP, concludes the Root for Nature journey with a strong symbolic gesture, confirming the desire to act together for biodiversity.
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Featured image credit: Getty Images
