This past weekend, I was on the ground in Montreal, attending the city’s wildest winter night of the year – Nuit blanche Montral. The event took place on the last day of Montral en Lumire, an 11 day festival that illuminates the entire city and transforms it into a cultural hotspot, featuring art exhibits, riveting music performances, gastronomy, and hundreds of captivating indoor and outdoor events. It was clear that people of all ages, including children and their families, marked this night in their calendar every year.
Even with temperatures hitting bone-chilling lows at 1F (-17 C), Montreal’s city streets were jam packed with hundreds of thousands of energized people all gathered to party. In fact, the event received 350,000 visits in a matters of hours, making Nuit Blanche the most attended event in a single night in Montreal.
For the 12th edition Nuit Blanche, more than 200 activities were hosted throughout the city, most of them free, uniquely programmed for the occasion. My goal was simple – to find the most spectacular visual artwork being displayed at the event. Here are my top picks.
Dominique T Skoltz – Y2O at the Phi Center
Dominique T Skoltz – Y2O at the Phi Center
Inbal Hoffman – They’re everywhere! at Art Souterrain
Space Invader at Art Souterrain
Graham Caldwell – Compound Eyes at Art Souterrain
Simon Starling – Project for a Masquerade at Muse d’art contemporain de Montral
Simon Starling – Project for a Masqueradeat Muse d’art contemporain de Montral
Simon Starling – Flaga at Muse d’art contemporain de Montral
Revolving light projection on an illuminated igloo structure.
TILT – Garden of Light
The Pool by Jen Lewin
Ross Baisas – Piano Ice Sculpture. Anyone could walk up and play a song.
Visitors gathered at the community fireplaces to warm up.
One of the many concerts held around the city.
Thousand of people strolling through Place des Festivals. You can see a person zip-lining in the sky.
Photo credit: Eugene Kim, Annie Lee Kim / My Modern Met