Admirez-les tous ! Une exposition hommage à Pokémon

The exhibition “Admirez-les tous !” at the Musée en Herbe brings the world of Pokémon into conversation with art history and contemporary art. Collectible cards, preparatory drawings for the animated series, objects from the 1990s and artworks form a trail for families to explore, with a treasure hunt for children. Thirty years after the franchise began in Japan, these creatures offer a way to explore how images circulate.

From the first Japanese and French cards to giant Game Boys that let visitors rediscover the original games, the exhibition looks back at the phenomenon’s beginnings. It traces Pikachu’s transformations and reveals how a card is put together, while Julien Bardakoff shares the creative thinking behind the French names of the first two generations of Pokémon.

This familiar visual language then leads visitors to its sources and reinterpretations. Yōkai masks, prints and sculptures reveal connections with Japanese folklore; the cards also enter into dialogue with works by Munch, Mondrian and Mucha. The exhibition continues into the worlds of Daniel Arsham, Katherine Bernhardt, Hervé Di Rosa and Speedy Graphito, who each put their own spin on these characters. It brings together different ways of transforming the same figure, from video games to the artist’s studio.

Practical information
- Open daily from 10 am to 7 pm.
- Closes at 5 pm on 24 and 31 December; closed on 25 December and 1 January.
- Allow approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour for your visit.
- Free for children under 3.