Louvre-Lens Explores the Dark Side of Cuteness in 'Trop mignon ! L'art du bonheur'
From 23 September 2026 to 18 January 2027, the Louvre-Lens will host 'Trop mignon ! L'art du bonheur', in collaboration with the Musée d'Art moderne et contemporain de Strasbourg, located at 99 rue Paul-Bert, 62300 Lens. Curated by Annabelle Ténèze and Émilie Girard, this exhibition delves into the theme of tenderness in art, presenting cuteness as a form of political resistance. It challenges the Kindchenschema theory and examines how totalitarian regimes manipulate cuteness. Featured works include historical symbols and contemporary pieces by artists such as Liliana Porter and Philippe Katerine's Mr Rose sculpture. A dedicated room in Strasbourg acts as a 'salon des refusés', complemented by public programs involving a participatory study with scientists from the University of Montpellier. Notable artists include Pierre & Gilles, Tamara de Lempicka, and Annette Messager.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Trop mignon ! L'art du bonheur' runs 23 September 2026 to 18 January 2027 at Louvre-Lens, 99 rue Paul-Bert, 62300 Lens.
- Curated by Annabelle Ténèze, director of Louvre-Lens, and Émilie Girard, director of the Museums of the City of Strasbourg.
- The show also travels to the Musée d'Art moderne et contemporain de Strasbourg.
- It crosses art history, neuroscience, sociology, cultural studies and cute studies.
- Konrad Lorenz's Kindchenschema theory is contextualised, including his Nazi party engagement.
- Cuteness was exploited by totalitarian regimes: Stalin with children, Hitler with a fawn, Mao Zedong's panda diplomacy.
- A Strasbourg room is a 'salon des refusés' for works deemed too kitsch.
- Philippe Katerine's Mr Rose selfie sculpture is displayed in the Louvre-Lens hall.
- Visitors vote for the work that touched them most at the end of the trail.
- The University of Montpellier collaborates on a 'peluchologie' participatory study.
Entities
Artists
- Annabelle Ténèze
- Émilie Girard
- Paul Véronèse
- Pierre Paul Rubens
- Jules Le Roy
- Nicolas de Largillierre
- Konrad Lorenz
- Joseph Stalin
- Adolf Hitler
- Mao Zedong
- Liliana Porter
- Tamara de Lempicka
- Mireille Blanc
- Charles Hascoet
- Pierre & Gilles
- Victor Weinsanto
- Philippe Katerine
- Mike Kelley
- Jordan Roger
- Pascal Lièvre
- Greta Gerwig
- Marc Riboud
- Jean-Charles de Castelbajac
- Annette Messager
- Benoît Piéron
- Will Cotton
- Laurence Geai
- Nicolas Poussin
- Edouard Marcel Sandoz
- Martin Claude Monot
- Antoine-Joseph de Bourge
- Alain Corbin
- Hervé Mazurel
- Eva Illouz
- Homère
- Ulysse
- Marcel Proust
- Jean-Charles De Castelbajac
- Jean-Baptiste Siméon Chardin
- Auguste Renoir
- Charles Hascoët
- Takashi Murakami
- Pierre et Gilles
- Chardin
- Renoir
- Cindy Sherman
- Mathis Boucher
Institutions
- Louvre-Lens
- Musée d'Art moderne et contemporain de Strasbourg
- Connaissance des Arts
- La Piscine – Musée d'art et d'industrie André Diligent
- Musée du Louvre
- Manufacture nationale de Sèvres
- MUDO – Musée de l'Oise
- Galerie Anne-Sarah Bénichou
- Danysz Gallery
- TEMPLON
- Edie Éditions
- Renting Art
- La Fabrik
- LaM – Musée d'art moderne, d'art contemporain et d'art brut
- Université de Montpellier
- Le Monde
- Agence MYOP
- Adagp
- GrandPalaisRmn
- Tamara Art Heritage
- Musées de la Ville de Strasbourg
- Musée de l'Orangerie
- ICOM France
- museums of the City of Strasbourg
- museums of Strasbourg
Locations
- Lens
- France
- Strasbourg
- Roubaix
- Paris
- Beauvais
- Villeneuve d'Ascq
- Mexico
- Egypt
- Japan
- United States
- Ukraine
- Montpellier
- Susa