Water for all...
Inspired by the creativity of Cirque du Soleil and its long-standing social
commitment, ONE DROP has developed an approach whose founding principle is the
firm conviction that arts and culture can contribute to saving the world. At times
through the theater, at time through the circus, music and poetry or multimedia,
this approach can be used to inform, raise awareness and mobilize individuals and
communities about water-related issues here and elsewhere by establishing a close
relationship and by changing our way of seeing this extraordinary resource.
To spread this vision in developed countries, ONE DROP has created AQUA: a
touring multi-sensory experience that takes people on a journey into the world
of water. Configurable in either a square (75ft x 80ft x 15ft / 23m x 25m x 4.5m)
or linear (50ft x 146ft x 15ft / 15.5m x 45m x 4.5m) configuration, this original
creation aims to: Raise awareness of water-related issues and increase understanding
of the scope of the problem; Inspire participants to get involved in the cause of
"water for all"; and to inform every one of the urgency to act.
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Premiere: | May 15, 2009 |
Type: | Exhibit | One Drop |
Finale: | February 26, 2012 |
Status: | No Longer Touring |
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Itinéraire
Montreal Science Center May.15.2009 - Sep.07.2009
Musuem of Nature, Ottawa May.22.2010 - Sep.06.2010
Museum of Civilization, Quebec Oct.27.2010 - Apr.10.2011
Auckland Museum, New Zealand Jun.24.2011 - Oct.25.2011
Maritime Museum, Sydney Dec.03.2011, to Feb.26.2012
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Diving into AQUA, participants – split into groups no larger than 60 – discover
water over the course of a 30-minute journey divided into three distinct spaces
(or "waves"). 360-degree projections, music, visual effects and water installations
immerse them in an adventure in which they are both actor and spectator.
First Wave
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The Fly team developed a 360° view in 3D, exclusively for AQUA, which puts the
visitor at the center of the sensory experience. This new technology generates
realistic 14-megapixel images for the ten HD projectors, with no distortion and
perfect continuity. It really makes individuals feel as though they are at the
core of a virtual event.
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Participants enter through a dark passage, immersing themselves in the world of
water. A video projects waves made up of droplets and a curtain of water falls from
the darkness above, all set to playful music mixed with children’s laughter and the
sound of them playing in the water. Spectators are given a glowing water drop that
accompanies them throughout the experience until they finally pass through the
curtain of water, ending up in a vast circular space.
Second Wave
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A sensor detects the
movement of visitors and simultaneously reacts on the entire surface. Float4 Interactive,
which developed the technology required for AQUA's interactive aspects, has created a
unique immersive experience. "From a virtual water bottom, the interactivity involves
individuals generating waves to splash their neighbors by moving their bodies!"
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An interactive audiovisual system takes participants on an emotional journey
through the history of water on our planet. Dazzling 360° projections explain
the essential role of water. The participants' movements influence the projections
(if you move, or "take action", you can make a difference), which react in real
time. Participants can splash one another and wipe a virtual fog-covered screen to
display key AQUA messages, which chime with ONE DROP objectives.
Third Wave
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AQUA's "water wall" uses 1,200 liters of water, which is recycled for each screening.
The central basin, meanwhile, has a 300-litre capacity. Additionally, each of the
illuminated drops provided in the first wave was programmed independently so as to
create a unique experience for all participants.
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In another room, participants are shown shocking facts and calls to action that
inspire a feeling of individual and collective responsibility, encouraging everyone
to become an agent of change. Participants can then use an interactive terminal to
commit to doing something to save water. They leave AQUA with a common objective:
ensuring that all human beings have access to sufficient quantities of safe water,
today and tomorrow.
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The Creative Team
Guy Laliberté Artistic Guide
Gilles Ste-Croix Artistic Guide
Jean-François Bouchard Senior Creation Director
Fernand Rainville Adaptation and staging
Marie-Claire Lagacé Ideas and creative direction
Ann Arson Original script
Vincent Letellier (Freeworm) Music (*)
gsmprjct° Set Design and Props
Lightemotion Lighting design
TOXA Visual content
Fly Studio Visual content
FLOAT4 Interactive effects
Sid Lee Commercial creativity
NOTE (*): Vincent Letellier composed “A Journey into the World of Water”
for AQUA: ONE DROP
The Production Team
Nicole Ollivier Director of Awareness, ONE DROP
Geneviève Barrière Production Management
gsmprjct° Technical Direction, Set Design & Props
Annie Chèvrefils gsmprjct°
Cheryl Catterall gsmprjct°
Alexandre Tougas gsmprjct°
Luc Desilets gsmprjct°
Eric Fauque gsmprjct°
François David gsmprjct°
Benoit Giguère gsmprjct°
Karine Chartrand gsmprjct°
Brendan Forgathy gsmprjct°
LysianeRoch Advisor, Water, ONE DROP
Alain Vinet Advisor, Musical Direction
Annie Peyton Senior Stage Manager
Robert Vézina Stage Manager
Frank Dufault Coordinator, video, Cirque du Soleil
Solotech Programming and installation
Thanks
Luc Côté Filmmaker
Pierre Gill Cinematographer
Solotech
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From May 15, 2009 through September 7, 2009, the Montreal Science Center
hosted the world premiere of AQUA, an exhibit developed by the ONE DROP initiative
founded by Guy Laliberte to raise awareness of the global water crisis. Fan and
friend Gena Colton had the chance to preview the exhibit while attending the premiere
of Cirque du Soleil’s OVO. What sheexpected was a typical IMAX film about how we take
water for granted, how we waste or destroy our natural resources, and a sermon about
conservation and saving the planet. What she experienced instead was "a beautiful,
thought-provoking, interactive demonstration of how unevenly water is distributed
throughout the world and how we need to take care of what we have, decide to take
action to preserve it, and help those who do not have access to a sufficient quantity
and quality of water."
To begin, a small group of people are guided into a rather dark room. To my left
is a display of blue illuminated orbs shaped like giant water droplets, ahead of me
is a big screen, and to the right is a "wall" of water, sheeting down. This wall of
water is more than it seems, however. There are different pictures and shadows
projected on it. I loved that we had to stand - not sit and be entertained. There
was prerecorded narration, music, sound, light and of course, water effects. No one
told us what to do, but a guide silently demonstrated what we could do - if we chose.
We had to choose for ourselves to take action (interact with the screen) - or not.
As the scene progresses, the guide silently gave each person a giant blue illuminated
water drop to hold. The water wall parts, then and we are guided through it to a big
round space – 360-degrees of floor-to-ceiling projection screen. We surround an old-style
hand pump that’s affixed in the center of the room, which starts pumping water as soon
as we settle in. The 360° screen comes to life as well - scenes of fresh water abound.
We can actually interact with the water flow! We affect its flow by using our water
drops to move the water around. This shows us that if we take action we can make a
difference!
But this exhibit isn’t just about the idyllic conditions we’d find coming out of our
own faucets, it's also about places in the world where the water is so polluted the
inhabitants have no choice but to drink brown, foul smelling (and tasting) water. Therefore,
the serene fresh water scenes become polluted, and unsanitary, as we shift to represent
conditions found in many over-industrialized and 3rd world countries. At this point
everyone's hand-held blue water drop extinguishes. A scene of barren land is on the 360°
screen. The water pump stops pumping water, but the handle continues to squeak. Over the
horizon, the shadows of 5 children appear and move closer - until the shadows are standing
right in front of us. The scene is dire... but there's no water! The narrator tells us
that every 8 seconds a child dies of dehydration. The looming sound of a ticking clock
is heard. Every 8 seconds, a child shadow disintegrates... 40 seconds. Silence.
Our hand-held water drops start to flicker on as scenes of relief and hope appear.
The well starts pumping water again. The guide leads us to place our blue-again water
drops into the pool surrounding the pump as a pledge to become more aware of our use of
water and how it affects others.As we leave the 360° room, there are quotes about water
from children around the world. The one I remember said something like, "I hear there
are places in the world where you turn a handle and water comes out."We are then lead
through a dark hall where there are little horizontal computer touch screens for
everyone to go to - if they want. Every time the screen is touched, it sends water
ripples - even when typing in your name.
The AQUA experience was unexpectedly entertaining as well as educational, and
inspiring. Afterward, she sat on a bench for about a half hour just to absorb what
she'd experienced - seriously.
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