OF TOYS AND MEN

This alluringly abundant pageant of toys will occupy the Museum and take the audience on a time journey back to childhood. Exploring the relationship between play and art through nearly 800 objects, the exhibition presents the history, design and aesthetics of Western toys from several centuries. Featuring toys from different periods, photographs and art objects, it demonstrates that play is a fundamental aspect of humanity and a creative and regenerative cultural force.

Toys are like miniature sculptures that tell about style periods, cultural history and manners. Revealing prevalent gender roles, they show how adults seek to prepare children for their encounter with society. Toys reflect the reality of their own age in miniature.

The timescale of the exhibition also demonstrates the development of toy manufacture: a home industry and craft sideline has become an industrial mass product and a consumer commodity. The exhibits include toys that have belonged to royalty, along with beloved classics of such legendary toy manufacturers as Märklin from Germany and America’s Mattel. Also featured are unique items created by ordinary people as well as great artists, such as Alexander Calder and Keith Haring. In addition to toys the exhibition also features artworks, posters and films on the theme of toys. The exhibits are on loan from major public and private collections in Europe and the United States, including Paris’s Louvre and the V&A Museum of Childhood in London and ScienceFictionArchives.com.

The exhibition is brought alive by the commentary of Pierrick Sorin. The French video artist has created comical optical theatres and videos in which he steps into the world of toys, guiding the visitor from one theme to the next.

The exhibition is produced by  RMN – Grand Palais, Paris, in collaboration with Les Arts Décoratifs. 

The exhibition was also presented at the Helsinki Art Museum, as part of Helsinki World Design Capital 2012, from February 24th to May 20th 2012 under the title "Lelun lumo".