The Museum of Illusions opens its doors in Montreal on Saturday after mesmerizing several major cities around the world. Kaleidoscopes, luminous spaces and optical games seek to entertain visitors while demystifying the limits of human perception.
Posted at 1:39pm. Updated at 12:00 p.m.
After Toronto, Montreal is the second city in Canada to be chosen by the international franchise, which already owns 43 museums around the world.
Montrealers and tourists from Old Montreal who visit the freshly painted museum on Rue Saint-Antoine can have the same interactive experience as visitors to the first facility in Zagreb, Croatia, which opened in 2015.
With a few exceptions, these are the same creations that can be found anywhere in the world.
Interact with art
Manager Yoshimmy Salas’ goal is to create an experience that differs from what is reserved for “traditional” museums. Her study project in visual arts had led her to “create paintings you can touch”, which is the case with the 70 permanent installations of the Museum of Illusions. The spirit of the game resides in multiple creations.
For example, you can pretend you’ve had your head cut off or that you’re hanging from the ceiling. Therefore, it is better to be at least two people to be able to enjoy it, especially if you want to trick your Instagram followers with optical illusions. The museum is effectively designed to incorporate photography so visitors can create content themselves.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
François Roy takes a picture in one of the kaleidoscopes.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
The sloped room gives the impression that Yoshimmy Salas (right) is taller than his colleague, when he is not.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
This kaleidoscope is one of the installations that can only be found in Montreal.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Yoshimmy Salas is ready for the game and appears to have had his head cut off.
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Combine fun and learning
The games of light, the mirrors that reproduce the same image over and over again, and the surprises hidden in a photograph also serve to popularize optical games. Each installation includes an explanation of the illusion, as understanding is often “hypothetical,” says Salas.
Some well-known installations are the hypnotic wheels and the faces that can only be seen in the picture when you stand at a certain angle. Watch out for the main attraction if you get a little dizzy: walking through the vortex tunnel can throw you off balance – and that’s the goal.
It will also be an opportunity to mistake you for an actor from The Lord of the Rings as the inclined room uses the same technique used on screen to depict The Hobbits. Even your tallest friend would look smaller than you!
The Museum of Illusions opens its doors on Saturday. Ticket price is $26 for those 16 and older ($20 for those ages 13-15 and $24 for those 65 and older).