Unterlinden Museum's 'Conversation(s)' Exhibition Defies Chronology with Cross-Century Dialogues

The Musée Unterlinden in Colmar presents 'Conversation(s),' an exhibition running until December 7, 2026, that pairs works from different eras based on visual affinities rather than chronology. Curated by Nino Barattini, the show juxtaposes a Hans Holbein the Elder portrait with a Pierre Soulages canvas, a 16th-century still life with Arman's 'Colère,' and a medieval Christ sculpture with Maurizio Cattelan's photograph 'Mother.' Other pairings include a Ron Mueck giant chicken opposite Urbain Huter's 'Miracle des poulets rôtis,' a César compression next to a 16th-century relief, and Yves Saint Laurent's ensemble for the Virgin of El Rocío alongside a 1470 painting. The exhibition also features works by Yannis Gaïtis, Jean Lurçat, Martin Schongauer, Agnès Thurnauer, and Seyni Awa Camara. Housed in a former Dominican convent expanded by Herzog & de Meuron in 2015, the museum's collections span seven millennia. Barattini's approach emphasizes subjective, intuitive connections, transforming visitors into interpreters rather than passive viewers.