CBC EVENT FOR TORONTO’S BIRTHDAY
To celebrate Toronto’s birthday, we were contacted by a communications and public relations company to work on a large-scale, interactive project for CBC. Unlike our usual signage and mural work, this project was something completely different—a live, evolving mosaic mural that changed in real-time as people participated in the event.
The goal was to create a Toronto cityscape mural made entirely of individual photos of Toronto’s citizens. Leading up to the event, we spent two months canvassing the city, photographing hundreds of residents to contribute to the mosaic. In total, we gathered over 1000 portraits to form the base of the mural.
However, the real magic happened at the event itself.
INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE
- The event took place in Dundas Square over the course of a weekend.
- Attendees could have their photo taken on-site and instantly see themselves become part of the mural.
- A custom mosaic software was used to integrate new images in real time, dynamically transforming the artwork throughout the event.
CHALLENGES
- Developing and using mosaic software that could handle such a high volume of images while updating instantly.
- Coordinating a live interactive experience in a high-traffic public space.
- Managing on-site printing and placement to ensure the images aligned properly within the mural.
The final mural was a true celebration of Toronto, visually representing the people that make up the city. It was an unforgettable experience for both the team and the public, as each participant had the unique opportunity to become part of a public artwork in real time.
This was a very different kind of project for us—one that combined technology, community engagement, and large-scale art in a way we had never done before. But the challenge was worth it, and seeing the public interact with the mural made this an incredibly rewarding experience.