The “Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition” at the Art Park in West Kowloon Cultural District (“WestK”) opened to the public with help from the L’Oréal Groupe and curator Visionaries. The opening of this exhibit coincides with Notre Dame’s reopening to the public. 
 
This exhibition, developed by the French start-up Histovery, showcases the cathedral’s 860-year history, including pivotal moments, from its construction in 1163 to the ongoing restoration efforts.
 
Mrs. Christile Drulhe, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau said, 
 
“Five years after the fire that severely damaged Notre-Dame de Paris, the Cathedral is reopening to the public on December 8th, thanks to the tireless dedication of workers and supporters, including from Hong Kong. The inauguration of “Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition” could therefore not be timelier, and I commend the role of L’Oréal and Visionairs, as well as the innovative technology of French start-up Histovery in this regard.”
 
After the 2019 fire at Notre Dame, restoration and reconstruction efforts have been working hard to reopen the cathedral. L’Oreal has been a donor and supporter since this time and sponsored the world-touring exhibition developed by Histovery in collaboration with the public institution Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris. 
 
This exhibition reflects L’Oréal’s purpose of creating the beauty that moves the world and allows consumers to experience how technology can contribute to culture, heritage enhancement, and beauty preservation.
 
Ms. Eva YU, President and Managing Director, L’Oréal Hong Kong, said, 
 
“L’Oréal’s 115-year legacy is rooted in beauty, creativity, and a deep respect for cultural heritage. ‘Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition’ reflects these values, offering a unique opportunity for the public to experience the enduring beauty and resilience of this iconic landmark. We are honored to be part of this remarkable, innovative world experience in Hong Kong and inspire all of us to appreciate and preserve the shared beauty of this World Heritage treasure.”
 
At the exhibition, visitors can immerse themselves in the heritage of Notre Dame and navigate the cathedral’s key historical moments using the AR touch-screen tablet, HistoPad. 
 
With a high degree of freedom and diverse interactive elements, the exhibition enables visitors of all ages and backgrounds to curate an individual journey and experience the multifaceted beauty of Notre Dame at their own pace.
Ms. Lydie Blandeau, CEO and co-founder of Visionairs said,
 
“Today marks the official opening of Visionairs, Hong Kong’s first permanent home for ArtTech located in Hong Kong’s WestK. This is the first of our research-backed cultural exhibitions that use immersive technology to bring history and culture to life for our audiences.”
 
The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests from Institut Français, Consulate General of France in Hong Kong and Macau; the Office of the European Union to Hong Kong and Macao; West Kowloon Cultural District Authority; InvestHK; local and French community of business, art, culture, and innovation, and more.

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