Mechanical Avalokitesvara by South Korean artist Wang Zi Won, 2015. The arms of Buddha move constantly

Musée du Quai Branly, the future Musée Jacques Chirac, always surprises us and this time, the exhibition, « Persona, Etrangement humain » which hightlights objects from old civilisations up to contemporary robots, is both riveting and disconcerting.

Zoomorphic statue of a dog with open mouth, made with nails, photo Claude Germain

I am not enough of a scientist to follow every explanation around this fun and exciting exhibition but I trusted my eye to enjoy most rooms of the show. As Stéphane Martin, President of the museum explains, this is « an exploration of mechanisms through which an object becomes animated ». From Indian astromorphology to African sculpture and Japanese robotic, 230 pieces are here to explain the personification of objects. A simple example is the teddy bear. How does it become a loving person in the mind of a child ?

Two monkeys appear to be discussing business or conversing

The first room shows « Homo luminoso » by Roseline de Thelin, the silhouette of a man made of light. « Radio Momo » a mock up radio created by Jean Jacques Lebel in reference to Antonin Artaud reminds us of African communication devices. A divinatory accordion, the galukoji, comes from Congo and moves according to names. Negative names make it react. Japanese Love dolls in silicone, an Indian robot that lets you speak to god, two monkeys who seem to be playing chess, are mixed with anthropomorphic statues from Martinique.

Homo Luminoso, by Roseline de Thelin

A human sculpture made of copper threads

Curated by Emmanuel Grimaud and Anne-Christine Taylor-Descola, two anthropologists who study science fiction as well as lost civilizations, this show will appeal to « Star wars » lovers as well as to art historians or sociologists. I recommend taking your children there during school vacations. They will have great fun and you too! (until 13 November)