Regeneration is a journey into the heart of nature’s power. Presented at Jardin Botanique de Montréal, this experience uses science to tell the story of how a piece of land is being regenerated by plants.
Cameras and sensors set up on a piece of land patiently observe the rebirth of the soil using plant life. The resulting data is transposed into a fascinating work of art that reminds us of the power of Mother Nature, that anthropomorphized (or allegorical) entity that can give life, nurture and heal.
The huge transparent mobile was created using materials from the land. Powered by the digital data tracking the progress of the site’s revitalization, the work comes to life in a play of light and sound, with abstract elements transformed into a truly immersive experience.
Entirely dependent on the land, the installation allows visitors to learn about phytoremediation—the process of using vegetation to regenerate soil—in a contemplative, captivating manner. In this experience, we feel and live the pulse of plant life.
Artists Alexandre Burton and Mélanie Crespin worked with Botanical Garden research botanist Joan Laur to create this intriguing work.
This visually arresting experience is the result of data compiled from a piece of land at Jardin Botanique de Montréal, in real time and cyclically.
One-liner
A living, breathing experience at the intersection of nature, science and art.
Two-liners
Dive into this impressionistic, immersive work.
The transparent mobile featured in this installation was made using natural materials taken from a piece of land at Jardin Botanique de Montréal. The sensations generated by the experience are entirely created by plant-life data collected from this section of land that’s being revitalized.
Regeneration is an intriguing, living sound and light spectacle that allows visitors to explore a new universe through art.
Artistic Directors
Alexandre Burton
Mélanie Crespin
Set Designer and Bioplastic Materials/Vegetable Dyes Designer
Mélanie Crespin
Digital Instrument Making (Lutherie numérique et médiatique)
Alexandre Burton
Scientific Consultant, Jardin botanique de Montréal
Joan Laur
Bioplastic Materials Makers
David Lamarche
Geneviève Le Guerrier-Aubry
Sound Designer
Javier Asencio
Project Lead, Public Programs and Education, Jardin botanique de Montréal
Anny Guindon Varvarikos
Emilie Tanguay-Pelchat
Installation Builder
Productions Double Effet
Technology Integrator
artificiel.org
Visual Identity Designer
Principal Studio créatif
Data Manager
La boîte interactive
Editorial Designer
Emilie Laperrière
Biomimicry Consultant
Moana Lebel
ESPACE POUR LA VIE AND JARDIN BOTANIQUE TEAM
Director, Espace pour la vie
Julie Jodoin
Director, Jardin botanique de Montréal
Anne Charpentier
Head of division, Public Programs and Education
Martine Bernier
Educational Program Officer, Public Programs and Education
Anny Guindon Varvarikos
Artistic Designer – Public Programs and Education
Emilie Tanguay-Pelchat
Scientific Leisure Coordinator, Public Programs and Education
Marika D’Eschambeault
Cultural Agent, Public Programs and Education
Émillie Cadieux
Educational Programs Officer, Public Programs and Education
Annabelle Mimouni
Audiovisual Technician, Public Programs and Education
Philippe Leclerc-Lachapelle
Graphic Artist, Public Programs and Education
Lucie Bossé
Curator and Head of Division, Scientific Research and Development
Michel Labrecque
Research Botanist, Jardin Botanique de Montréal
Joan Laur
IBRV Students, Scientific Research and Development
Laurianne Bédard
Émilie Grandmaison
Nicolas Perreault
Laurie St-Fleur
Landscape Architect, Landscaping
Céline Paradis
Head of division, Horticulture and Collections
Marie-Claude Limoges
Foreman, Living Plant Collections, Horticulture and Collections
Robert Mineau
Luc Thériault
Specialized Horticulturist, Horticulture and Collections
Isabelle Paquin
Gardener, Horticulture and Collections
Julie Roy
Principal Administrator, Infrastructures, Platforms and Storage, Information Technology Department
Andrei-Cristian Coza
Director of Operations and Customer Experience
Albane Le Nay
Planning Advisor, Marketing
Anne-Josée Dionne
Communications Officer, Communications and Marketing
Isabel Matte
NATIONAL FILM BOARD OF CANADA’S INTERACTIVE STUDIO TEAM
Executive Producer and Producer
Louis-Richard Tremblay
Associate Producers
Solen Labrie Trépanier
Véronique Tessier
Laurence Dolbec
Senior Production Coordinators
Isabelle Limoges
Véronique Tessier
Administrator
Marie-Andrée Bonneau
Senior Production Coordinator – Administration
Evelyne Cortes-Oquendo
Technology Director
Martin Viau
Interactive Media Coordinator
Caroline Fournier
Legal Services
Christian Pitchen
Head of Media Relations
Magalie Boutin
Social Media
Émilie Nguyen
Project Manager, Public Relations
Marie-Noëlle Clermont
COLLABORATORS
List of names in alphabetical order
Cameraman, Documentation of the Creative Process
Guillaume Beaudoin
Text Editor
Catherine Bélanger
Translator
Kurt Chaboyer
Editorial Consultant
Kristina Gauthier-Landry
Textile Supplier
Michel Gohier (ShowTex)
Printer
Graphiscan
Fireproofer
Philippe Grimon (Châtincourt Inc.)
Videographer, Documentation of the Creative Process
Andrew Main Oster
Plant Colour Consultant and Dye Plant Supplier
Dahlia Milon
Studio d’art Schuffle
Audiovisual Suppliers and Integrators
CBCI Telecom, Une compagnie Solotech
XYZ Technologie culturelle Inc.
THANKS
A special thank you to Serge Bouchard, Charles-Mathieu Brunelle (Directeur d’Espace pour la vie), Émilie Cadieux, Miri Chekhanovitch, Micheline Clouard (Vlan paysages Inc), Marika D’Eschambeault, Vali Fugulin, Justine Gervais, Philippe Grimon, Annabelle Mimouni, Yanique Paquette, René Pronovost (Directeur du Jardin botanique de Montréal), Alizarine Teinture.
Botanical illustrations by Erwin Lichtenegger. Wurzelatlas. Publishers: Graz Stuttgart Stocker, Publishers Leopold Stocker Verlag, Gustav Fischer Verlag and DLG-Verlag.
With the contribution of the teams of the Horticulture et collections du Jardin botanique division, Espace pour la vie’s Communications and Marketing division, City of Montréal’s Service des technologies de l’information and Service de la gestion et de la planification immobilière and Service sécurité incendie Montréal.
The Regeneration project, the third phytotechnology station, is made possible thanks in part to the Space for Life Foundation and the generous support of its donors.