“It’s a sacred place, we couldn’t show naked bodies or political messages”: end of original economic mission in Rio

“The idea germinated in Sydney, at the opera, during a previous mission. But if it was too complicated, the idea of ​​​​mounting the friendship between the two countries in an emblematic place in each country remained”he explains.

The association with Barco, a Flemish company specializing in video projection, and Dirty Monitor, from Charleroi, “it makes a great story”, he exclaims.

A project that almost did not see the light of day

Arnaud Meulemeester takes out his phone to show a video of previous projects. Dirty Monitor, it must be admitted, played well and left its mark all over the world. Ambition seems limitless.

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“By the time Barco validated our project, we found ourselves with only a couple of months to organize the activity. It was right. And no one wanted to put in the money, because of all-out budget cuts, nor WBI (Wallonia-Brussels-International), nor Awex, which I can understand in the current context, but the idea appealed. We proposed the project to the Foreign Trade Agency and the Prime Minister’s Chancellery, which we were able to raise awareness of thanks to the decisive help of Agoria, and we succeeded“, he explains.

“Ultimately, we do it for free and Barco takes care of the projectors. Let’s say it’s a gift we give to Belgium, to Princess Astrid, to the friendship between the two countries. It’s one of the Seven Wonders of the modern world… It was a long-time dream of mine“, he explains.

However, everything was not over, because the place had to be privatized. “The Corcovado (Christ of Rio, Editor’s note), it is a religious shrine which is managed by a priest, Padre Omar. No matter how much we come and say we don’t have money, it doesn’t work like that. And they were asking us around 30,000 euros for 2 hours!”he exclaims, suggesting that the price was greatly reduced subsequently.

“Usually we always have support but here, no one wanted to get involved. We had to convince the consulate, the Royal Palace because the princess had to go up to the Corcovado terrace, which only has 50 seats. You should know that it is the most visited place in Rio”, he continues. The statue, 38 meters high, overlooks the city at an altitude of 700 meters.

“No messages, no propaganda”

If Dirty Monitor and Barco managed to convince the famous Padre Omar, obviously a local Instagram star who manages the sanctuary, certain rules were still defined.

“It is a sacred, religious place. So there were restrictions. The mapping (projection of videos on Christ, Editor’s note) could not show naked bodies, political messages, propaganda. We can’t project on Christ’s face or hands either, so we worked on his toga. We started with Belgian art nouveau, very floral, and the Amazon forest. The show plays on these textures for five minutes“, he continues, delighted with their first “big move” in South America and thanking the famous “Padre Omar”.

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“The Prime Minister’s Office still provided money for the catering and Fevia for the drinks. But be careful, we don’t drink alcohol at Christ the Redeemer! Padre Omar told us this well. It’s forbidden. So there are beers, but they are not alcoholic!“, he explains with a laugh. For the recording of the show, Dirty Monitor requested the help of a Flemish company, Many Mind, which brought in specific drones, as well as American pilots specializing in these devices.

“Frankly, when we see what France did for the G20 or the United Arab Emirates for the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations with Brazil… while they have plenty of money… We, the little Belgians, can be proud because we do better!“, he laughs.