The Machines of the Imaginary
An interactive adventure at the heart of BAnQ’s collections.
Client: Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec
Partners: GSM Project, Jack World, Transversal, Studio Réunion
Strange machines that make the invisible visible have appeared at the Grande Bibliothèque. These intriguing devices offer new ways to explore BAnQ’s collections.
Through them, visitors can open windows onto imaginary worlds, trace hidden links between documents, visualize emotions, and observe how different media preserve and transmit knowledge over time. It’s an invitation to uncover the mysteries of the intangible and to explore the unknown.
The machines can be experienced in any order the visitor chooses, allowing complete freedom of discovery and fostering a personalized and inclusive experience.
“This project, supported by the Ministry of Culture and Communications, illustrates how technology can deepen our connection to memory. It’s an innovative way to bring our heritage to life.”
Mathieu Lacombe, Quebec Minister of Culture and Communications
The Imaginoscope invites visitors to create colorful characters and populate imaginary worlds inspired by children’s literature.
The Connectoscope reveals unexpected connections between works of different genres — from novels to documentary films, theater, and comics.
The Emoscope brings poetry to life on screen, transforming the emotions it evokes into an immersive, sensory experience.
The Biblioscope unveils ancient books on a virtual vault, visible as visitors walk along the illuminated footbridge on level 4.
The Audioscope highlights early forms of communication, such as a parchment signed by Louis XIV.
The Archivoscope presents an interactive souvenir album composed of faces and scenes from 19th- and 20th-century Quebec, captured through engravings, daguerreotypes, glass negatives, and slides.
The Periscope offers a glimpse of Montreal’s neighborhoods at the beginning of the 20th century, through postcards and literary excerpts.
A semi-permanent project, The Machines of the Imaginary unfolds across several floors of the Grande Bibliothèque.
Each installation can be explored independently and, in some cases, borrowed (like other BAnQ items) to travel to other libraries or cultural venues throughout the city.
