How do you make a 500-year-old painting talk? At the Paris Motor Show “Mondial de l’Automobile 2018”, BMW Group introduced its Intelligent Personal Assistant. Together with the Jung von Matt agency, an idea was developed that POOL group turned into a technical reality. The world-famous Mona Lisa came to life through a 75 m²  LED installation on the square in front of the Centre Pompidou.

The biggest challenge was to make the interactions feel authentic. Movements and facial expressions had to look credible – precise enough to surprise the audience, yet subtle enough to avoid slipping into the cartoonish. There were also extensive requirements around structural integrity, safety, and signal stability, as absolute operational reliability was essential for a public installation at such an iconic Paris location.

POOLgroup handled complete technical delivery – from motion design and 3D modeling to programming and content creation as well as the final configuration of the LED screen. Cutting-edge media technology, IT, rigging, audio, and lighting were key elements of a stable, high-precision system in which every visual and acoustic element responded within milliseconds.

At the same time, POOLgroup contributed its design and strategic know-how: We created the narrative framework, designed the event and experience, developed the visuals and interaction content, and defined the complete customer journey. Comprehensive destination research on the use of a public square in Paris provided the groundwork for permits, safety plans, and infrastructure planning.
Building on this, we created feasibility analyses, budget and scheduling plans, and precise process systems that consolidated all technical, scheduling, and regulatory requirements.

During implementation, the POOL crew were responsible for overall project management, coordinated all interfaces between the client, agency, and trade partners, and managed setup, logistics, transport, and material handling. Bringing the set designs to life, supporting the artists and voice talents, and directing the live production all came together as a precisely orchestrated whole.

Passers-by asked questions – Mona Lisa answered. She switched languages, said hello, and even sang songs. An icon of art history turned into an interactive, surprisingly human counterpart – right in the middle of Paris, technically flawless, and emotionally intuitive.

Together with Jung von Matt and the BMW Group, a project was developed that combined art, technology, and brand communications in an outstanding way. The POOLgroup ensured that the idea not only worked but also left a lasting impression on the people gathered in front of the Centre Pompidou.