Victor Pilon

Victor Pilon, OC CQ RVM (born March 19, 1958) is a director, theatre designer, visual designer and photographer from Quebec.

Life and career

After a two-year stay in Europe, Victor Pilon enrolled in visual arts at the University of Ottawa. In 1983, after receiving his bachelor's degree with a specialization in photography, he moved to Montreal. With Michel Lemieux, he founded the company Lemieux Pilon 4D Art in 1990. Since then, they have worked together to create a plethora of multimedia productions, including La Belle et la Bête (2011), NORMAN (2007), La Tempête (2005) and Anima (2002), all of which have toured internationally.

In 2003, Pilon and Lemieux did the visual design for the T.V. show The Planets, based on the music of Gustav Holst, presented on both the French and English networks of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). They also created many large-scale events such as Harmony 2000, a show created to celebrate the beginning of the new millennium, and Soleil de Minuit, the closing performance of Montreal International Jazz Festival 2004 (MIJF), commemorating, respectively, the 20th and 25th anniversaries of Cirque du Soleil and the MIJF. They were also behind Cirque du Soleil's DELIRIUM. With over fifty artists onstage, this multimedia production revisited the music of Cirque du Soleil's past productions. In 2008, they directed Starmania, the famous show by Luc Plamondon and Michel Berger. It was the first time this musical was produced as an opera.

As official photographer for the British royal family when in Canada, Pilon has covered more than 30 of their visits. Working for the Government of Quebec and Government of Canada, he has also photographed various other heads of state during their official visits.

Creations in collaboration with Michel Lemieux

Shows

• 2014 – ICARUS
• 2011 – La Belle et la Bête
• 2008 – Starmania The Opera
• 2007 – NORMAN
• 2006 – DELIRIUM
• 2005 – La Tempête
• 2003 – The Planets
• 2002 – Anima
• 1998 – Orféo
• 1996 – Pôles
• 1994 – Grand Hôtel des Étrangers
• 1992 – Têtes Chercheuses
• 1992 – Naïf, by Michel Rivard
• 1990 – Free Fall

Installations

• 2014 – Dreamscapes – 30 Years of Innovative Performances at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
• 2013 – Continuum – Planetarium Rio Tinto and Espace pour la vie
• 2000 – Translucide
• 1999 – Ocean of Hope
• 1997 – Time Travel
• 1995 – Reach for the Stars
• 1994 – Territoire Intérieur / À mille lieux
• 1993 – Act of Faith

Special events

• 2004 – Soleil de minuit
• 2000 – This Is a Sphere
• 1999 – Harmony 2000
• 1995 – L'ADISQ
• 1995 – Hommage à la musique du Cirque du Soleil – Montreal International Jazz Festival
• 1992 – Uzeb farewell – Montreal International Jazz Festival
• 1992 – La Nuit de Montréal / Night parade
• 1991 – In Mid Air

Honours, awards and nominations

• 2014 – Knight, National Order of Quebec
• 2013 – Officer, Order of Canada
• 2011 – Gascon-Roux Award for best direction, set and lighting, LA BELLE ET LA BÊTE
• 2010 – Journal de Montréal ranked DELIRIUM and STARMANIA: THE OPERA among the best 10 shows of the decade
• 2008 – The Argus newspaper’s Angel Award for artistic excellence (Britain), NORMAN
• 2007 – Nomination for the Conseil des arts de Montréal’s Grand Prize, NORMAN.
• 2005 – Masque for special contribution of the multimedia concept, Académie québécoise du théâtre, THE TEMPEST.
• 2005 – Gascon-Roux Award for best direction, lighting and sound design, THE TEMPEST.
• 2005 – Technical award, Canadian Institute for Theatre Technology, THE TEMPEST.
• 2004 – Félix nomination for best soundtrack, ANIMA.
• 2000 – Winner of the competition to integrate arts with the architecture and environment of Montreal’s new conference centre.
• 2000 – Masque nomination, special contribution of the virtual and stage projections, ORFÉO.
• 1998 – Grafika Award, www.4dart.com website design.
• 1992 – Félix Award for best direction, for Michel Rivard’s show NAÏF.
• 1990 – Félix nomination for best direction, VOIX DE PASSAGE.
• 1985 – Winner of four Félix awards for best show of the year, best lighting design, stage manager of the year and director of the year, SOLIDE SALAD. Seven other Félix nominations, SOLIDE SALAD.

References

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

External links

• Lemieux Pilon 4D Art • Canada Council for The Arts • Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal