Hyderabad: The eighth edition of Novembre Numérique, France’s premier digital arts festival, opened its doors in the city on Friday at Alliance francaise Hyderabad, showcasing virtual reality experiences, augmented reality exhibitions and interactive digital installations.
The exhibition is open to the public till Nov 30.
This year’s highlights include an immersive journey through Claude Monet’s famous water lily garden using virtual reality (VR) headsets, and a virtual tour of the medieval construction of Notre Dame Cathedral.
Apart from this, visitors can also experience an unprecedented up-close encounter with the Mona Lisa through the headsets.
“November Numérique 2024 brings together the richness of French language, culture and cutting-edge digital technology to create an immersive and unforgettable experience for all,” said Jwalitha Kallam, culture and communications manager, Alliance Française Hyderabad.
French artist Aurélien Jeanney’s ‘Looki Look’ exhibition headlined the festival with an augmented reality experience that transformed static artworks into dynamic, animated stories. Using the ‘Maison Tangible’ app, visitors unlocked hidden narratives within the artworks, from vibrant Indian flower markets to temple scenes.
“This festival showcases French digital innovation while promoting Indo-French collaboration,” said Gregor Trumel, cultural advisor and director of the French Institute in India. “It is an opportunity to explore how digital technology is shaping our societies while experiencing the diversity of digital creation.”
Another installation was the ‘Francophonie in All Its Forms’ exhibition, an augmented reality sound and art mural celebrating French-speaking regions around the world. The exhibition features five interactive panels representing different Francophone regions.
The festival also included “1, 2, 3 Bruegel!,” a virtual reality hide-and-seek game set in the famous painting Children’s Games by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
Nicolas Facino, director of the Alliance Française du Bengale, highlighted the festival’s unique approach to experiencing art. “These immersive experiences breathe new life into historical masterpieces and allow visitors to engage with art and heritage in an unprecedented way.”
