Mysterious carnivores

For its seventh theme garden, Parc Marie-Victorin decided to completely overhaul its greenhouse, outdoor circuit and exhibition pavilion to create a unique and captivating visitor experience. Since the park is named after Quebec botanist Brother Marie-Victorin, who hailed from Kingsey Falls, it only made sense to showcase his favourite plant, Sarracenia purpurea, a carnivorous plant found in the province’s peatlands.

Contrary to popular belief, carnivorous plants are not only found in tropical regions. They thrive in most parts of the world, with more than 15 species in Quebec alone! Our team saw an opportunity not only to showcase these mysterious carnivores in all their variety, but also to dispel common misconceptions about them through engaging and surprising experiences.

The visitor journey unfolds in three stages – an exploration of the park’s living collection in the greenhouse, an outdoor trail with large-scale installations, and an exhibition on carnivorous plants in popular culture – all tied together by an interactive quest for kids.

One of our team’s challenges was to design a coherent and dynamic visual language to connect these very different environments, which range from contemplative to educational to entertaining.

Drawing on comic-book codes, Botanic Panic is a fantastic adventure that budding botanists discover at each stop of their journey. The story features a young botanist, Victor Marie, who discovers a rare carnivorous plant on his travels. He brings it back to Quebec for his research . . . but the plant escapes from the greenhouse! Victor Marie needs help finding his botanic fugitive.

As visitors of all ages search for hidden clues along the outdoor trail, they explore playground-style structures that evoke the traps of carnivorous plants. What better way to get a sense of how a trapped insect might feel? The goal of the quest is to decode the plant’s message and unlock an interactive door to the pavilion. Once inside, visitors have to complete one last challenge in the form of an immersive game before deciding on the plant’s fate.

In the mini-exhibition The Good, the Bad and the Hungry, the reputation of carnivorous plants is put under the microscope. Eye-catching scenography showcases pop culture’s most famous carnivorous plants, featured in comic books, movies and video games. These plants are often cast as bloodthirsty villains, eager to turn unsuspecting creatures into their next meal. Why has this terrifying image lasted so long? Fact and fiction are often closely intertwined . . .

Carnivorous plants are a fascinating topic. With its new exhibition, Parc Marie-Victorin has fulfilled its mission to educate a wide audience on these unique plants, the science of botany and much more. The interactive quest is both entertaining and thought-provoking, raising important questions around scientific research and sound ecological practices. And the pop culture exhibition uncovers the dubious origins of some very deep-rooted stereotypes!

• GSM Project (Experience Design+Production)
• LightFactor (Lighting)
• Cécile Gariépy (Illustration)
• Rémi Vincent (Animation)
• XS Music (Musical Composition)
• Construction Martin Chaput (General Contractor)
• Atelier La Boutique (Fabrication)
• Lamcom (Printing)
• Elephant Play (Playground Fabrication)
• Ottomata (Interactive Production)
• IC Events (AV Integration)