Case Study: Adapting Loop for the Millénaire de Caen

As part of the celebrations for the Millénaire de Caen, Quartier des spectacles international wanted to offer visitors to the Presqu’île a bespoke artistic experience. The interactive installation Loop, currently on a European tour, was specially adapted to be integrated into the Débordions Art-Science-Society trail, dedicated to water and contemporary climate issues.

Loop: a popular and customizable work

Created by Ekumen, Jonathan Villeneuve, and Olivier Girouard, Loop is a mechanical and light-based installation that functions like a giant zoetrope — an optical toy invented in the 19th century. Activated by the public using hand-levers reminiscent of railway handcars, its large circular structures bring animated sequences to life through the effect of retinal persistence.

In its original version, Loop features short films inspired by works of Québécois literature, including those of Joséphine Bacon, Dany Laferrière, and Wajdi Mouawad, accompanied by soundscapes emitted from the heart of each wheel. The speed of the animation, the frequency of the flashing lights, and the tempo of the music are entirely controlled by the participant’s cadence.

A custom-made adaptation for Débordions

What makes Loop unique in the QDSinternational catalogue is its ability to tailor its content to different contexts. For the Millénaire de Caen, the visual sequences were redesigned to align with Débordions, a living laboratory devoted to water and its many symbolic dimensions.

Caen-based artists Ginette Minou and Yannick Lecoeur were invited to create new animated flipbooks themed around water in its various states. Each sequence pairs a physical state of water with a human emotion, inviting the audience to navigate between elements and sensations.

The result: a unique visual and sound experience composed of six short, playful narratives that resonate with the spirit of the site and integrate seamlessly with the rest of the Débordions program.

A Dialogue Between Art, Place, and Community

In addition to being part of the exhibition trail, Loop becomes in Caen a tool for cultural mediation and a platform for showcasing local creativity. This adaptation has made it possible to:

• Build a bridge between Quebec artists and Caen-based creators

• Root the installation in the maritime identity and history of the peninsula

• Involve the local community in reinterpreting an international work

Presented from June 27 to August 31, 2025, Loop is accessible daily, with evening openings every Friday and Saturday throughout the summer — extending the sensory experience in a captivating nighttime setting.