CUTE

Why do we swoon over baby faces, stay glued to screens showing fluffy kitten videos, and collectively communicate through emojis? This summer, discover the seductive and sometimes confusing universe of CUTE at Kunsthal Rotterdam, an exhibition that shows how cuteness has both conquered and deregulated our world. In this time of fast online stimuli, being cute is not just attractive, but also a powerful tool to manipulate, comfort, or provoke. Dance to sugary beats in the Hello Kitty disco, transform into an anime character in the installation Glimmer, or dress up tiny digital monsters in the game arcade. Especially for CUTE, JimmyPaul designed a dress to celebrate Miffy’s seventieth birthday. From Japanese kawaii to funny memes and futuristic design: CUTE immerses you in an ultra-cute experience.

Over fifty artists and collectives from all over the world explore the power of cute – as well as its flip side. Names like Takashi Murakami, KAWSxCampana, Sejoon Kim, AYA TAKANO, and Mark Leckey show you how cuteness is linked to technology, identity, desire, gender, and nostalgia. The Rotterdam duo Supertoys Supertoys enriches the exhibition with its own work as well as an innovative exhibition design that brings the duo’s views on radical cuteness to life. Besides artworks, a universe filled with pop culture awaits: from toys and manga comics to rare collectibles. This way, you’ll discover how cuteness isn’t just found in art, but is all around us in everyday life.