Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
On Wednesday 5 March 2025, the eighth edition of Luxembourg’s Immersive Pavilion exhibition opened at the Abbaye de Neumünster (neimënster) in Luxembourg-Grund.
Previously known as the “VR Pavilion”, the exhibition includes immersive light projections, AI-powered installations, and interactive virtual and augmented realities that immerse visitors in what is described as “new worlds”.
The 2025 exhibition has ten virtual reality (VR) experiences and two artificial intelligence (AI) installations open to the public.
The experience forms part of the Luxembourg City Film Festival, in collaboration with Innovative Initiatives (Digital Luxembourg), the PHI Centre in Montreal, Canada and Film Fund Luxembourg.
Prior to the official opening, Chronicle.lu toured the exhibition, accompanied by Ke Medley, technician and 3D artist from the Phi Centre in Montreal, a studio focusing primarily on immersive experiences. Ke Medley explained that the immersive works on display consisted of ten experiences, covering virtual reality, mixed reality and immersive installation. The works include This is my Heart (Luxembourg), Fragile Home (Ukraine) and Champ de Bataille (France). Two AI (immersive installation) experiences are also exhibited: AI and Me, in which participants are shown how AI perceives them, and Tulpamancer, described as an immersive encounter with participants’ memories. Ke Medley explained that the exhibition strives to showcase experiences with a Luxembourgish connection, in whole or in part. The works are a curated selection, chosen from international sources, for the Immersive Pavilion in Luxembourg.
Participants can immerse themselves in these virtual worlds with the aid of goggles and headsets. There are many assistants at hand to guide those who are not familiar with immersive experiences and to explain how the process works. Chronicle.lu had the opportunity to try the Luxembourg-made experience Ito Meikyu, in which “concepts either oppose or intertwine in the infinite cycle of a labyrinth with no exit”, as described on the Immersive Pavilion website.
The experiences on display range from ten to 40 minutes in length. Ke Medley advised members of the public who wish to participate in multiple experiences to do so over the course of a few visits.
In collaboration with the Luxembourg City Film Festival, Film Fund Luxembourg awards the “Best Immersive Experience” prize, worth €4,000, during the event.
Ainhoa Achutegui, Director of neimënster, opened the event and welcomed distinguished guests, including Luxembourg’s Minister for Culture, Eric Thill, Luxembourg City Film Festival President, Georges Santer, Director of Film Fund Luxembourg, Guy Daleiden, and Chief for New Media Partnerships and PR at PHI Montréal, Myriam Achard.
The speakers highlighted the importance of the Immersive Pavilion both on the international circuit and to showcase Luxembourg artists. They also acknowledged the pavilion’s role in developing the virtual reality sector, creating links and fostering an interest in the technology within the general public. The virtual reality sector continues to grow and influence artistic endeavours. The speakers also referenced the diversity of artistic development available as a result of immersive experiences and AI application, and its growing influence in cultural institutions, including cinema, theatre and museum productions.
The Immersive Pavilion is open from Thursday 6 to Sunday 23 March 2025. Entry is free, but participation is subject to availability of headsets. Participants must be at least eight years old. Children under thirteen must be accompanied by an adult to use the virtual reality headsets.
HOM
