Children’s trail

A stroll among the collection’s works reveals artists who observe and represent diverse life forms: a tree with leaves made of bird feathers (Miraceus, Solange Pessoa), fantastical animals hidden in lush vegetation (Bruno Novelli), medicinal plants, and more. Landscapes from around the world are present, from the Amazon to the Massif Central, islands off the coast of Australia, and expanses of the American west. Lastly, visitors can learn about the myths and traditions of the peoples inhabiting these forests and landscapes around the world: Yanomami shamans, ancestral Maori wooden weaving traditions, and more – a veritable exploration of the beauty and mysteries of living worlds!

After discovering the richness of living worlds, it’s time for a stroll among imaginary cities and curious experimentations by artists and architects. Between the utopian maquette of Kinshasa by the artist Bodys Isek Kingelez, and the colorful, meticulously drawn urban landscapes by Mamadou Cissé, the joyful and vibrant views of the city reflected by Freddy Mamani’s kitsch ballroom invite discovery. The light, inspired hand of the Japanese architect Junya Ishigami can also be seen in excerpts of both existing architecture, and works that have never been built. This walk through architectural experimentations from around the world also brings us to Alessandro Mendini’s unusual Petite Cathédrale, a small, colorful structure with gilding that diffuses a mysterious scent and sounds.

This section features artists whose preferred material is science! While the two disciplines are often viewed as divergent, a great many artists, philosophers, and scientists have undertaken and produced work that tightly intertwines these two worlds. This includes Panamarenko’s submarine, Shantaram Tumbada’s reinterpretation of the invention of the wheel, and Jessica Wynne’s photographs of scientists’ chalkboards. It’s an opportunity to discover Mario Merz’s curious piece featuring a turtle on a wall with a series of luminous numbers. The informative label adapted for children will help shed light on the work!

The last section brings together works by artists particularly interested in materials and know-how, both traditional and innovative. Some of the works featured here are the product of chance – like the dead branches encountered on walks that are the primary material used by the artist Veio, or Simon Hantaï’s technique of crumpling his canvas and painting it, then unfolding it to reveal colorful geometric shapes. The masterful technique of Olga de Amaral, who has revolutionized textile art, is also on view in a monumental work. The art of ceramics is also showcased – an ancient technique reinterpreted by contemporary artists who imbue it with modernity through their innovative technical gestures and novel representations.

Selected artists are not presented in these four sections, but are shown in small solo exhibitions, some of which are adapted for both children and parents. For starters, blur the senses with the work of James Turrel, who creates an unsettling space of darkness and color in which he toys with our perceptions. Another artist who plays with our view of reality is Vija Celmins, who proposes an artistic alternative to the game of “spot the difference”, presenting a stone she found in nature, and a sculpture attempting to replicate it. Rob Mueck also seeks to play with the boundary between reality and fiction, with his uncanny, ultra-realistic sculpture of a woman and her baby.

Lastly, an artist whose photographs convey joy: Malik Sidibé, the photographer who immortalized Malian youth culture – its parties, dancing, and laughter – in the 1950s and 60s.