This weekend in Montreal, we won’t be spending a moment at home. Between the Grand Prix, hockey, and the beautiful weather, we figure we’ll take a nap during our lunch break at the office on Monday morning—and everything will be fine. And the one thing you absolutely must do this weekend is check out the sublime ANIMACHINA II.0 at PHI.
The collaborative project by Camille Poliquin (KROY) and Jonathon Anderson, produced in partnership with the Design + Technology Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, is the second iteration of the work.
In addition to being able to see ANIMACHINA and ANIMACHINA II.0 in PHI’s large, cool halls this weekend, you can also attend two robotic-musical performances by the artist.
ANIMACHINA II.0 – Submission and Oblivion
The videos and performances of ANIMACHINA and ANIMACHINA II.0 are spine-tingling. The KUKA robotic arm, the crystalline voice of Camille Poliquin dressed in haute couture athleisure , and the cinematic shots of the performance short films create an almost reassuring world.
Before seeing the work, you’re almost afraid of falling into a Black Mirror-style spiral of depression where machines suffocate us against a backdrop of elevator music. But ANIMACHINA is very different and very, very beautiful.
With the poetic and deeply human sadness of a teenage girl’s diary, Moon Boots, and accompanied on the electronic piano by a gigantic robotic arm, Camille Poliquin is like a princess from a gothic fairy tale.
For ANIMACHINA II.0, instruments were designed specifically for the robot’s use: a five-head flute (3D SLS printed), a steel drum (formed by the KUKA robot and played by that same robot), and a rubber-stringed instrument (sound captured using contact microphones).
Practical Information
Where? PHI, at 407 Saint-Pierre Street
When? May 20–24, 2026
Saturday, May 23 at 3 p.m. / performance (arrive at 2:30 p.m.)
Sunday, May 24 at 3 p.m. / performance (arrive at 2:30 p.m.)
How? General admission is $15; for more information, click here
