French May Arts Festival
Virtually Versailles Exhibition 2023
The Challenge
The French May Arts Festival introduced the inspiring concept of a virtual exhibition, enabling local and regional visitors to discover 'Versailles'—the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Without transporting a single piece of art or statue from Versailles, the challenge was to reveal its essence in an elevated and unexpected digital way. Confined to a downsized exhibition space, LORE also had to create a strategic flow to maximise the usable area, emotionally enrich the experience, and make visitors feel as though they were momentarily in Versailles.
The Approach
LORE was responsible for the technical implementation, full production, and maintenance of the exhibition, which was located across two halls at the Sha Tin Heritage Museum, covering an area of 800 square meters.
The intention was to allow visitors to interact with Versailles on physical, sensory, and digital levels without losing the cultural essence of the project. There were six thematic zones across the two halls: "Time Travel Versailles", "The Splendours of Versailles", "Versailles Style", "The Nature of Versailles", "Innovation at Versailles", and "A Day in Versailles".
A five-sided, 360-degree HD LED room offered an almost fully immersive spatial journey, virtually 'transporting' visitors into five of the most emblematic rooms of Versailles. Multi-sensory experiences allowed visitors to hear the reconstructed voice of Louis XIV and smell an exclusive fragrance created especially for Versailles by a renowned French master perfumer. A perfect combination of laser projection and an over 200-degree panoramic curved screen, developed in collaboration with local artist Professor Jeffrey Shaw from Hong Kong Baptist University, created an immersive theatrical space where visitors could virtually cycle through the gardens of Versailles to appreciate their natural beauty.
While one might fear that virtual experiences offer less than a real visit, this exhibition provided visitors the opportunity to touch, feel, smell, and interact in ways that are not possible at the actual Versailles.
The exhibition recorded a total of 119,873 physical visitations over three months. Survey results indicated that 93% of visitors were highly satisfied with the overall experience.
Awards
2023/Gold Award/Excellence in Use of Technology/Marketing Excellence Award 2023
Accolades
"Thank you very much for the great effort of your team and you that ensured the smooth operation of the exhibition… Looking forward to work you again in future!"
Dr Raymond Tang Man-leung, Curator (Art) of Hong Kong Heritage Museum
"Many thanks for your tremendous support to the exhibition. It was truly a pleasure to work with you in this extraordinary project. "
Mr Brian Lam Kwok-fai, Museum Director of Hong Kong Heritage Museum
"We also express our deepest gratitude for your exceptional contribution for Virtually Versailles. That exhibition would not have been possible without LORE. Your commitment and expertise have been instrumental in making this event a resounding success. Thank you for being so patient, listening and your precious advice in any circumstances."
Mr Xavier Mahé, General Manager of French May Arts Festival
Client
French May Arts Festival
Year
2023
Industry
Arts & Culture
Services
Exhibition Design & Production
The 5-sided, 360-degree LED room almost offers an almost spatial journey to virtually ‘’transport’’ visitors to the 5 most emblematic spaces of Versailles. A glimpse of the majestic grandeur of the Hall of Mirrors, the Gallery of Battles, the Mercury Room, the Venus Room and the Royal Opera House.
An interactive bicycle device is a perfect combination of laser projection and an over 200o panoramic curved screen by collaboration with local artist Mr Jeffery Shaw from HKBU, created in collaboration with local artist Mr Jeffery Shaw, to create an immersive theatre space that allows visitors to virtually cycle through the gardens of Versailles to appreciate their natural beauty. Visitors become collaborators in this art installation.
The VR 3D gallery took visitors on a virtual-reality tour inside the Palace of Versailles to look into details of the interior decor and architectural features of selected architectures at the Palace.
Interactive game allowed visitors to rearrange the signature masterpieces in Versailles and challenge the fastest winner list.
Interactive digital photo booth allowed visitors to personalise themselves as a distinctive member of the Royal Family.
An interactive multimedia gallery showcased selected masterpieces from the Versailles collections.
An immersive projection film, A Day in Versailles, captured the beauty of a day at Versailles from dawn to dusk, with panoramic views of the gardens, statues, fountains and fireworks.