In Praise of Folly. Fools. Artists. Saints.
31 August to 2 December 2012
Media Conference: 30 August 2012, 11 a.m.

Taking its starting point from contemporary creative practice, the exhibition sets out to explore the role and position of the (super)human visionary and presents a fascinatingly diverse selection of examples from European and non-European civilisations and cultures of all periods of history. Images, symbols, figures and much more from ancient Egypt, the Far East or Oceania are shown alongside European baroque, modernist and contemporary works. Their manifest differences notwithstanding, they bear witness to the universality of the concept of the outstanding individual who transcends the limitations of self and society and to his/her role as a mediator between the human and the superhuman, disease and health, madness and reason. These individuals range from the carnival reveller, the medicine man and the shaman to artists, smiths, kings, heroes, fortune tellers etc. Also exhibited are their tools, fetishes and physics.

Whereas the first presentation of the exhibition in Paris is more ethnographic in focus, the Art and Exhibition Hall will put greater emphasis on art – both classical and contemporary – and investigate the parallels between Christian traditions and non-Christian concepts.

This exhibition was designed and produced by the musée du quai Branly. It is initially presented in Paris from April 11th to July 29th 2012.