Underground Verses is an immersive augmented reality (AR) installation designed for Nuit Blanche 2025, transforming Berri-UQAM metro station—Montreal’s central transit hub where multiple lines converge—into an interactive storytelling space where metro lines and people's stories metaphorically collide.Created by Mahzad Sharifahmadian and Nisha Coleman, this project invites visitors to engage with floating poems in the digital space of the metro, offering a unique way to experience the emotions and fleeting moments of urban life.
By scanning QR codes, participants unlock digital poetry that appears within the station, blending seamlessly with the physical environment. The poems, inspired by the daily experiences of commuters—waiting, rushing, or simply observing—offer moments of reflection, empathy, and humour, encouraging participants to connect with the shared rhythms of the city.
In addition to the digital poems, physical prints of the poetry are displayed throughout the space, creating a dialogue between the digital and the tangible. Empty frames invite visitors to contribute their own words, transforming the installation into a collaborative and evolving experience. This interactive element encourages participants to reflect on their own transit journeys, adding their voices to the collective memory of the underground world.
Underground Verses reimagines the metro as more than just a mode of transportation—it becomes a place of exploration, expression, and connection. The project fosters a sense of community by inviting visitors to share their personal stories and engage with others through art and technology. This installation celebrates the beauty of fleeting moments and the power of storytelling, transforming the familiar, everyday space of the metro into an extraordinary experience.
The installation is located at Berri-UQAM metro station, near the ticket validation gates, heading toward Exit C. Follow this exit for quick access to Boulevard Maisonneuve and Place Dupuis.
Photo credit: AI-generated image (Gemini) based on the author’s prompts.
