Photo credit: © Wong Ping, Still from ‘An Emo Nose’, 2015. Courtesy of the Artist and Kiang Malingue. Somerset House.
Last week saw the launch of Cute at Somerset House, a major new exhibition exploring the power of cuteness in contemporary culture.
From Louis Wain’s signature cats to Hello Kitty (which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year), Cute features works from over 50 artists and contributors alongside archive displays.
The exhibition is set into five themes – Cry Baby, Play Together, Monstrous Other, Sugar-Coated Pill and Hypersonic – which explore the different ways that cuteness has been portrayed.
Claire Catterall, Senior Curator at Somerset House, explains: “as it saturates our digitally mediated age, cuteness feeds and compels us in ways that suggest there is so much more to it than its adorable and seemingly harmless exterior might imply.”
In the Evening Standard’s five star review, Maddy Mussen recommends Cute as: “a must-visit for any adult child of the internet age, or indeed any parent of the internet age.”
Cute runs until 14 April.
Getting there:
The nearest underground station is Covent Garden. Alternatively, it’s a 36 minute walk which takes you along Piccadilly and past Trafalgar Square.
Also in the area:
The Courtauld Gallery
Doctor Johnson’s House
Covent Garden