I headed over to the National Gallery for the 2 pm event. Even as I was walking through Major's Hill Park I could already tell that it was way busier than normal. I got to the National Gallery just after 1 pm, and the crowd was already massive. Ottawa is usually a fairly quiet city, so it was a welcomed change of pace!
There were two giant mechanical creatures: Long Ma and Kumo. Long Ma is a dragon-horse that shoots firey flames, and Kumo is a spider that shoots water. The two creatures are not only massive, but also are engaging in a weekend long duel. While Long Ma shoots fire, Kumo counters with water. The creatures "walk" throughout the downtown core, while police direct the crowds so nobody gets crushed. I do wish that the routes for the creatures were released to the public in advance, as no one really knew where to go to get the best view of the show.
One of my favourite aspects of this show was the live band that followed the robots in the sky. There were four separate robotic lifts, each carrying between 1-4 musicians. This musical accompaniment completed the show, and was incredibly impressive!
La Machine shows are taking place all weekend long, you can take a look at the schedule here. I won't lie to you: the crowds will be huge and might be overwhelming, but the atmosphere was really friendly and exciting. It's not too often that something like this makes its' way to Ottawa, so if you're able to catch some of the action, definitely do so!
Have you managed to catch Long Ma and Kumo wandering the streets of downtown Ottawa? What did you think of the show?
Lol I was wondering how they made sure no one got trampled cuz they look SO big!
ReplyDeleteThey're apparently 3 stories tall! Crazy!
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