What an incredible honour for our entire team, our valued collaborators, and above all, for Mohammed Shofi: the immersive exhibition Finding refuge has received the 2026 NUMIX Award for Best Exhibition, presented at the 2026 NUMIX Awards Gala.
Presented at the Musée de la civilisation from March 2025 to January 2026, this immersive documentary exhibition touched tens of thousands of visitors through a deeply human experience inspired by the life story of Mohammed Shofi, a Rohingya refugee whose journey speaks to the realities faced by millions of displaced people around the world.
At the heart of Finding refuge is the story of Mohammed Shofi, who was forced to flee Myanmar with his family when he was still an infant. Through a unique immersive audio experience, visitors were invited to follow his journey—from his childhood in the Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh to his arrival in Québec.
Guided by Mohammed Shofi’s own voice, the exhibition offered an intimate encounter with the memories, sounds, and emotions that shaped his path toward a new home. Rooted in a documentary approach infused with poetry, humanism, and hope, the experience echoed the realities of millions of people who have been forced to leave their homeland in search of refuge.
The exhibition featured, among other elements, the remarkable dioramas of artist Karine Giboulo, which brought key moments of the story vividly to life, as well as the extraordinary scale models created by Gérald Laforest, including the shopping mall model that left a lasting impression on many visitors.
At the centre of the narrative were also a number of meaningful personal objects, including the jewellery carefully carried by Mohammed Shofi’s mother during the family’s escape from Myanmar.
By weaving together artistic creation, immersive exhibition design, and documentary storytelling, Finding refuge offered visitors a powerful and moving experience.
This award belongs first and foremost to Mohammed Shofi. We are profoundly grateful for his trust, generosity, and friendship.
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire team at the Musée de la civilisation, especially Dominique Boileau, project manager and the true conductor of this extraordinary undertaking, as well as Régis Pilote, Guillaume Loubier-Jacques, and the museum’s conservation, communications, technology, production, and leadership teams, whose dedication helped make this exhibition such a success.
Our sincere thanks also go to our valued external collaborators: Steve Blanchet, creative advisor; Pierre-Jules Audet, sound designer; Jean-Philippe Côté of Triptyque Audio for the technological development; graphic designers Nicolas Gilbert and Jasmin Robitaille (Dièse); Lucas Dubé, video projection designer; and Dominique Godbout, research consultant.
Finding refuge is an immersive exhibition inspired by the life of Mohammed Shofi, conceived and created jointly by the Musée de la civilisation, MÖ FILMS, Mélanie Carrier, Olivier Higgins, and Karine Giboulo.
Through an immersive audio and scenographic experience, the exhibition invites visitors to better understand the realities of exile, welcome, and resilience through the moving journey of a Rohingya refugee.
A co-production of the Musée de la civilisation and MÖ FILMS.