FRIDA KAHLO @ L'ARSENAL NOW

detail from the huge immersive room where Frida Kahlo's life is illustrated

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I visited the "immersive biography" of the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo presented at L'Arsenal since June 10, 2022. The event is created and presented by The Frida Kahlo Corporation, Layers of Reality (LOR), and Primo Entertainment Group. 

Technology has given rise to many immersive events around the world built around the most beloved artists in the world. This allows us to connect with these great artists and although the real art is not there, we can still get a sense of why the artists are so beloved. A caveat, of course, is that these events are not very profound. They are meant to entertain more than anything.

The project happening at L'Arsenal offers some exquisite pieces that portray significant features of Frida Kahlo 's life: the tramway accident she suffered as a teen and the long hours she spent alone in her room recuperating from endless series of medical procedures. The aim of the exhibition is to acquaint the visitor with the artist's life more than her work. The first is the multi transparent screen installation that features flying broken glass from the impact of her accident while a white form is writhing like a leaf in the wind from the impact. The action is coming right at you, you almost feel like bending to avoid the shards of glass. The second, the virtual reality representation of the lonely times in her room where her imagination soared and where she painted her immortal paintings. It is a real technological breakthrough as the quality of the cinematography is just fabulous!

The exhibition runs until July 24, 2022 and you can buy your tickets here: L'Arsenal

LENA GHIO   

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E-AI 2022 MONTREAL

 

This was the conference room where we listened to exciting experts talk to us about their work and their vision for the future. As you can see, it is an immersive space that was created in the spaces of OASIS Immersion who are currently presenting Van Gogh.  Photo © Lena Ghio , 2022

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David Usher 
Photo © Lena Ghio , 2022

In the past years the E-AI symposium had occurred online due to Covid restrictions. This was, therefore, the first time experts in the fields of entertainment and artificial intelligence gathered to share knowledge, to  network and think profoundly about the future.

The first conference we heard brought together David Usher and Philip Hodgetts on the subject of the potential of AI and entertainment. On the attached websites you will discover the vastness of these two creatives minds and outputs.

The theme explored by Philip Hodgetts were about how AI had dramatically changed digital work on movie and game backgrounds. The examples he cited were: " You can now draw a simple horizontal line and the AI will draw a complete scene or you can download a 2D photograph and the AI will spontaneously translate it into a 3D immersive space." If you have worked on digital programming in the above mentioned industries you understand just how much time is saved by using AI. To give you an example, in one 60 second scene in season 5 of Game of Thrones, you see Tyrion Lannister and Lord Varys arrive at the Long Bridge of Volantis. It took the techs at RODEO FX 6 months to transform the Roman bridge of Cordoba in Spain into the Long Bridge of Volantis. AI can reduce the time so dramatically that Philip Hodgetts could already dream of all the time he would have at his disposal to just be creative!

David Usher  offered sobering insights into what he considers the greatest disruptors for the future of humanity: AI and climate change. He is the creator of the Climate Clock. He spoke of the pragmatic use of AI on digital movie work like this: " We can create total digital characters now. The advantage of these characters on a production is that the character can sustain in its awareness vast fields of knowledge and memories from its "life and times" and always stay in character. We can create minds instead of only a physical character. Then there is the concept of eternal life on the Metaverse because image and mind live on there." This last thought he attached to a dream he has to one day experience being with Steve Jobs. As they concluded their presentation, they were citing the many jobs that would be taken over by AI, technology and robotics. Here is what David Usher recommended we think about as the disruptors of life impact all of us: " Look around and ask yourself: where is my next career?"  My mind was already blown and it was not 10 am yet! 

Bertrand Nepveu, hired by Apple to code on a "secret" project,  and Alexandre Teodoresco,  Director - Strategic Development and Innovation at Les 7 Doigts / The 7 Fingers, come at E-AI from two distinct perspective that are trying to come together to create magical experiences for entertainment consumers. M. Teodoresco has been working diligently for years to present shows of Les 7 Doigts / The 7 Fingers in the Metaverse. To accomplish this, he needs a brilliant coder like M. Nepveu to combine his vision with technology. I interviewed M. Teodoresco who presented a first example of Metaverse circus recently and his working to present an even better show in December 2022. Here is a project accomplished in 2020 that gives us a glimpse at the possibilities. In the above image M. Teodoresco outlines a manifesto for Montreal to ground in this city the potential that the world is aware of. Great projects are being contracted overseas while the greatest expertise is right here. The QR code at the heart of the photo will give you more information about this. Photo © Lena Ghio , 2022

The video I attached below is one example of how AI is and will be used in commercial ventures. Bigthinx is a fashion company that has software that will recreate your whole body starting from a modest selfie. From there, all your measurements will be configured to allow you to shop for clothing during a virtual fashion show just for you. You will instantly get a sense of how you look in any style of clothes that may interest you. 

This article contains mere snippets of what is coming in terms of AI and all the areas it will be used. This is at once exhilarating and terrifying! Until the next E-AI symposium, let's take it one day at a time.

LENA GHIO   

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L'ANNEAU / The Ring / Montreal's latest wonder!

L'ANNEAU © Claude Cormier + Associés.

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Claude Cormier, the architect who
designed L'ANNEAU
Photo © Alexi Hobbs

June 16, 2022, I am heading to Place Ville Marie for the official launch of what will surely become one of Montreal's iconic piece of architecture. Imagined by architect Claude Cormier who told me his principal work is landscape architecture and urban design not so much the creation of a piece of public art like L'ANNEAU.

Place Ville Marie has been undergoing massive renovations and decided to add to the fresh new building a memorable icon.

Although architects are experts at making dreams come true, such a marvel was not built without major hurdles, as you can imagine. Including a torrential thunder storm on the day of the official launch! But Claude Cormier took all the challenges he had to face in stride and this summer, a glorious silver ring will magnify the beauty of one of Montreal's most gorgeous streets, McGill College. In the video below you will see the vision behind the remarkable piece.

From my perspective, I think it is simply MAGICAL! For one the circle is such a rich symbol in both human history and the unconscious of the human mind. It is a universal archetype that absolutely every living being can relate to. It is pure, it is absolute! I can only congratulate everyone involved in this project, mentioned above and Ivanhoé Cambridge who supported the project.

LENA GHIO   

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AU CINÉMA EN JUIN

BANDE ANNONCE

TENDRE et SAIGNANT

Cette comédie romantique met en vedette Arnaud Ducret et Géraldine Pailhas et est signé Christopher Thompson. Charly Fleury (Pailhas) est une as des publicités et médias sociaux chez un éditeur important quand son père meurt et lui laisse en héritage la Boucherie Fleury. Entre temps, des changements dans sa situation professionnelle la résigne à soulever le défi de s'occuper de l'entreprise familiale juste le temps de passer les festivités de Noël. 

Pour cela, elle doit collaborer avec Martial Toussaint (Ducret) avec lequel elle a eu une aventure sans lendemain avant de se rendre compte qu'il était l'employer de son père à la boucherie.

Un film agréable qui m'a fait sourire et qui m'a réconfortée une journée de pluie. 

Au Cinéma dès maintenant.

COMPÉTITION OFFICIELLE

BANDE ANNONCE

Une comédie brillante qui met à l'affiche Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderez et Oscar Martínez. Ils sont chacun des sommités dans leurs disciplines respectives mais fonctionnent avec des systèmes de valeurs très différents. 

Un millionaire de 80 ans, Humberto Suárez interprété par José Luis Gómez, veut laisser un monument pour honorer son nom après sa mort. Il décide donc d'engager le trio pour qu'ils puissent réaliser ce film pour lui.

Dans une maison ultra-moderne et minimaliste les trois personnages interagissent en dévoilant les particularités de leurs personnalités divergentes. Par exemple, Lola Cuevas (Cruz) est une réalisatrice de films reconnue pour ses tendances excentriques. Elle fait passer les deux acteurs célèbres, Félix Rivero (Banderas) et Iván Torres (Martínez), par plusieurs exercices troublants dont celui de déchiqueter leurs plus précieux trophées. 

C'est un film très intelligent qui m'a fait bien rire!

Il sera diffusé au Cinéma Beaubien dès le 24 juin!

LENA GHIO   

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MONTREAL• SUMMER • MUSIC!

The artists of Festival International de Jazz 2022 Photo ©  Lena Ghio , 2022 

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Get yourself ready for JOY! Montreal's many festivals are launching their programming and it is astounding! As you know, there are outside concerts at Place des Festivals and concerts inside venues for which you will need tickets. Follow this link to discover all the artists and sample their music: Festival International de Jazz 2022 

During the press conference an artist I had not known previously sang us a song. BOOM! I am in love! Her name is Léonie Gray  Her voice is evocative of the wonderful Amy Winehouse with a twist! What a de-light! 

Festival International de Jazz 2022 begins June 30 2022 and goes up to July 9 2022.

This festival will be almost immediately followed by Festival International Nuits d'Afrique on July 12 up to 24 July 2022. This precious festival lets us discover what African influenced artists do with rhythm and sound and the results are astonishing. You can see all the artists here and sample the magic!

I discovered Tiken Jah Fakoly, an famous world music singer from the Ivory Coast. I was blown away!

I enjoyed discovering Delphine Mounkoro, the colourful Dobet Gnahoré, and the stunning Ndaka Yo Wiñi  who gave a live performance on the night of the unveiling.

At long last, life returns to the city!

LENA GHIO   

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Maika, the girl from another galaxy

 

TRAILER

This delightful movie fantasy for children was written and directed by Ham Tran, a Sundance Film Festival alumni. It stars Chu Diep Ahn as Maika,  an alien who fell to Earth after she lost touch with her travelling companion, and Truong Phu as Hung, a boy who is grieving the death of his mother and the loss of his best friend who is moving with her family to another town. 

Several plots unfold at once as a pair of bullies want the land over which Hung's father's home and business are built while a techno billionaire wants Maika for her knowledge and magical powers so she can work in his company.

I am sure children will thoroughly enjoy this fast paced Vietnamese adventure. The performances are very agreeable. Chu Diep Ahn and Truong Phu are adorable mischief makers who don't give up easily. They give the bad guys a run for their money.

I LOVED IT!

LENA GHIO   

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Montreal Magic!

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What a magical week this has been in Montreal! Le Quartier des Spectacles de Montréal has launched newly decorated sites ready for summer in the city. These sites will host many cultural events and performances like the  HOLOSCENES featured in the video above that I snapped during the press conference at l'Esplanade Tranquille. 

MAY 25, 2022 TO MAY 29, 2022

As part of FTA - Festival TransAmériques

Esplanade Tranquille

FREE !

Then there was the opening at Jardins Gamelin a few seconds of which I snapped in the video below. It is a nice place in the city to be with friends, outside in the trees and summer air. There is a restaurant, bar service and entertainment.  Montreal's mayor, Madame Valérie Plante has successfully implemented a strategy to allow Montrealers to experience summer in the city with beautiful accommodations surrounded by art and nature. I swear to you! I was walking in the downtown core and I was breathing in fresh air! It is magical! I could feel the mystical essence and spirit of my home city once agin! To accommodate people with cars, the parking is free in the city all weekend starting Fridays but the Mayor asks you to please take public transit to maintain the air quality.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

-LENA GHIO   

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