Details

To mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, Merlicht dreamed up a powerful scenography in which the visitor spends the last 100 days of the conflict with Canadian soldiers. Extending over 800 m² (8 600 sq. ft.), the temporary exhibition details key battles, which are each introduced by short and impactful content placed in small immersive anterooms. The chilling presentations are driven by an emotional and suspenseful crescendo that creates a close proximity with the soldiers. As visitors walk through the halls, they enter a riveting and even cinematographic world in which the 3D soundscape and lighting play important roles. The space is devoted to poignant accounts by soldiers, evocative elements, interaction and participation and many artifacts and works, as well as audiovisual content produced by the National Film Board of Canada and colourized period photos (thanks to the support of the Vimy Foundation) that breathe new life into the archives. The visual content fosters the immersive aspect of the tour to create a truly moving experience.

• Scenographic design
• Co-scripting
• 3D and graphic design
• Lighting design and installation and technical design and implementation.

Details

The Marine Environment Discovery Centre, whose mission is to showcase the invertebrates of the St. Lawrence, outgrew its outdated reception area and sought to redesign the space with a wow factor that would help it stand out from other local interpretation centres.

When visitors enter the centre, they plunge into an immaculate universe that showcases the estuary’s invertebrate inhabitants. A soundscape amplifies this sense of immersion, as if visitors had just dived underwater. Interpretive elements accessible to all audiences provide knowledge and an introduction to the permanent exhibition. A screen shares centre news and a motion design animation on the redesign. Instead of a welcome desk, guides greet visitors at one of two interpretation stations. The project also includes interactive tools to present group activities and a board to track the species observed daily. Merlicht also broadened the initiative by reimagining the signage in keeping with Parks Canada graphic standards. The new welcome area is an open space with comfortable custom-made seating and an eating area.

Turnkey project:

• Documentary and iconographic research
• Script
• Texts and translation
• Artistic direction
• Graphic design
• Sound and lighting design
• Video editing
• 3D design, specifications
• Printing, manufacturing and installation.

Details

An permanent exhibition in the heart of the community.

For the newest member of the Nunavik Parks network, Merlicht developed a bright, immersive and fun-filled exhibition with a visitor route and graphic design concept inspired by Inuit and Cree myths and legends. The welcoming space is meant to serve as a meeting point for local community members.

The scenographic approach appeals to all the senses and triggers a range of emotions: excitement and surprise before entering the immersive nests, fun and laughter climbing onto a sled and expectation and eagerness excavating the ground to unearth mysterious artifacts. Merlicht focused on creating interactive stations on the everyday lives of northern Indigenous communities to foster visual, auditory and sensory immersion. Indeed, the immersive nests are the high point of the exhibition: visitors plunge under water and watch a ringed seal escape from the clutches of a polar bear, soar with Canada geese as they cross the territory and more. While there is much emphasis on the cultures of the local communities in the exhibition’s physical spaces, the historical and scientific content is presented on digital tablets in four languages. During the design phase, Merlicht’s teams collaborated with representatives from local Indigenous communities to propose a concept in line with their respective values.

Turnkey project:

• Research
• Script
• Texts and translation
• Scenography, 3D design, visual identity and graphic design
• Illustrations
• Animations, mechanical and multimedia interactive stations
• Lighting
• Printing, manufacturing, delivery and installation.

Details

From Vimy to Juno: Remembering Canadians in France

To mark the 100^th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, the Juno Beach Centre chose Merlicht to develop a turnkey exhibition on Canada’s presence in France since the First World War and the ways we commemorate Canada’s contributions to the global conflicts.

At the outcome of a lengthy selection process, Merlicht orchestrated every project step by creating the wealth of content featured in this moving and captivating exhibition. The challenge was tremendous not only in terms of the complexity of the themes to be addressed in a very tight timeframe but also because expectations were very high, since the previous exhibition at the Juno Beach Centre (Grandma, What was it Like During the War?) designed and produced by Merlicht a few years earlier broke the centre’s attendance records.

From Vimy to Juno focuses on a central volume that evokes commemorative monuments and specifically the Vimy monument building site on which the names of the soldiers killed in the world wars and laid to rest in France are inscribed. At the heart of the piece is a fragment from the Vimy monument that is enhanced by the carefully selected lighting system. From there, a stream of 52 022 poppies—one for every Canadian who perished in the conflicts—severs the black and white exhibition hall like a bleeding scar.

Encircling the hall is a long mural chronicling the key events from the First World War to today to emphasize how we celebrate our heroes. Images, artifacts from private collections and works of art support the content.

Triptychs, whose design recalls the antitank defences used on the landing beaches, are placed throughout the hall to recount the story of the French and Canadian soldiers who, exceptionally, fought in both world wars and the ways in which their descendants honour them today. Like the mural elements, the triptychs support the educational program, which is shared through means including a digital app and participative puzzles. The soundscape follows the exhibition’s narrative line, and historical videos punctuate the visit.

The exhibition was entirely pre-assembled in our Montréal workshops and shipped by sea container to France, where it was set up by a French and Canadian team coordinated by Merlicht in only four days, including the installation of artifacts and lighting adjustments.

Turnkey project:

• Documentary, iconographic, artifact, sound and video research
• Release of copyright
• Script
• Texts and translation
• Educational programming
• Scenography, 3D and graphic design
• Video editing and subtitling
• Artifact handling and installation
• Specifications, transport and export logistics
• Printing, manufacturing and installation.

Details

Pointe de Penouille is a sand spit that marks the entrance to Forillon National Park in Gaspésie. Over the years, the site was reimagined in response to climate change and in an effort to better showcase its natural and historical heritage. The mandate was to create an installation that traces the three significant periods in the history of the site: Indigenous presence, whale hunting and cod fishing in New France.

At the tip of the peninsula, visitors discover three towers soaring toward the treetops. These signal elements are turned toward Gaspé Bay and the archaeological sites from each of the major periods in Penouille’s history. The height of each tower is proportional to the number of years between the periods themselves and present day.

In a new tailored landscape seamlessly integrated into the natural surroundings, visitors follow a trail bordered by a berm inscribed with a timeline of the landmark moments in the region’s history. From the timeline, three links cross the path and connect the three towers. These connectors feature quotes from the three key periods. The links climb onto each tower, raising the visitor’s gaze toward the sky.

The interpretive panels adhere to Parks Canada’s brand image and include content for young children. All the materials were carefully selected to resist the most extreme conditions brought about by corrosion, wind, frost and sun exposure and vandalism.

Turnkey project:

• Research
• Script
• Texts and translation
• Graphic
• 3D design and landscape design
• Manufacturing, delivery and installation.

Details

REDESIGN OF THE INTERPRETATION SPACES AND TOOLS IN THE FIVE ECOSYSTEMS.

Production of 4 introduction spaces and murals, contents (elaboration, graphic design and programming) for 42 interactive terminals, 144 species identification guide, 50 interpretive panels, children’s tour with 7 interactive stations, 5 intrepretive murals, signage for the whole museum, etc.

• Concept
• Script
• Design
• Production, bid documents for construction
• Supervision of the installation.

Details

INTERPRETIVE CIRCUIT, OLD PORT OF MONTREAL.

Eleven historic interpretive panels on the quays of the Old Port of Montreal. With a touching opening quote, each panel interprets landscape features of the site. Playful QR codes plunge the visitor into different ambiances from the past. The design of the panels, with graphics inspired by shipping containers, covers the pursued objectives: create a contemporary visual signature, catch the eye of visitors, offer a resistance of 10 years against weathering, corrosion and vandalism.

Turnkey project:

• Documentation synthesis
• Concept
• Script
• Design
• Production and installation.

Details

POUR BOIRE IL FAUT VENDRE – LA PUBLICITÉ ET LA BIÈRE BLACK HORSE AU 20^e SIÈCLE.

A permanent exhibition that showcases a collection of some 300 artifacts and 100 archival pictures and movies. Each of these items is singled out, thanks to a unified exhibit ensemble – display cabinets, interactive units and electronic media – with its resolutely contemporary lines and vibrant color accents. Overall, the exhibits preserve the architectural integrity of this unique place: two arches of the old Dawes brewery warehouse.

Turnkey project:

• Artistic direction
• Concept
• Design
• Production and installation.

Details

GIANT JIGSAW PUZZLE IN THE YOUR GARDEN EXHIBITION, AT THE CHLOROPHYLLE ROOM OF THE NONTRÉAL BOTANICAL GARDEN’S GREENHOUSES.

On a long table equipped with a compartment to store the puzzles pieces, adults and children assemble the image of the different sections of the Botanical Garden.  All the components are digitally designed and manufactured.

The puzzle pieces are made of printed foam, a lightweight, durable and washable material. They are designed to resist years of repeated handling by children. They are also safe for small fingers.

• Artistic direction
• Concept and design
• Coordination and production.

Details

DORVAL: MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED YEARS OF HISTORY!, A PERMANENT EXHIBITION WHICH HIGHLIGHTS THE RICH HISTORY OF THIS SUBURD OF MONTREAL.

To stage the content developed by the Museum, Merlicht proposed a contemporary museography approach, with bright touches of color and lines inspired by the original vocation of the Museum building, a former stable. The various exhibits facilitate the retention of messages communicated and diversify the visitors experiences: the Hall of Honour, its portraits and interactive photo booth; the Stable, its colorful horses transformed into interpretation media and its Discovery Chests for children; the column of books, a signage element to guide visitors towards the second floor to discover the history of Dorval told along a time line and through many artifacts; the oversized Souvenir Album where visitors enter into the memory of former vacationers, etc. Merlicht also designed the Museum’s promotional brochure/visitor guide and outdoor sign.

• Art direction
• Concept
• Content advising and coordinatioN
• 2D and 3D design
• Coordination of approvals, plans and specifications
• Fabrication, reference documents for employees and contractors of the City of Dorval
• Production and installation.