The National Museum of Natural History Looks to the Future with “Animale” exhibition
After a successful summer, the National Museum of Natural History (mnhn.lu) in Luxembourg is preparing for its next exhibition, “Animale,” opening in December. The museum, a longstanding fixture in the city – often cited by tourist reception agents as a key destination for families – is experiencing a growing influx of visitors, alongside a renewed focus on contemporary issues.
The “Animale” exhibition will explore the complex relationship between humans and animals.The museum director explained the choice of subject, stating, “It is indeed a subject that gains importance in our society.The way man manages this relationship with animals is elaborate and still, complicated is euphemal.” The exhibition aims to prompt visitors to consider their own perspectives, asking questions like: “What do you think when you see a rabbit? Do I see it as something cute, like a plush or do I see it as something to put in the pan or that I rise for its fur?”
The exhibition will delve into the inherent biases within how humans categorize animals. “There are indeed a lot of problems. There is a species that dominates others, which we all put in a single box ‘animal’ While the animal kingdom are millions of different species,” the director noted. the exhibition will highlight the discrepancies in how different species are perceived – some cherished like cats and dogs, others vilified like snakes, bats, or spiders – and the categorization of animals as harmful, useful, for work, leisure, or sport.
The museum emphasizes that the exhibition’s goal is reflection, not activism. However, it also presents an opportunity for the museum itself to address questions from visitors regarding its collection. A frequently asked question is: “Where do your naturalized animals come from?” The director clarified that while older specimens often came from practices no longer acceptable, “this is obviously no longer the case today.”
The museum acknowledges a shift in outlook from past representations of human dominance. “At one time, the museums of the big countries represented man as the master of the world. Today, this has changed and our collections are clearly used for an awareness-raising objective of biodiversity threatened by human activities.”
To further engage the public, the museum launched a call for participation, inviting individuals to lend objects that hold personal meaning related to animals. While some responses have been received, including many stuffed animals, the museum is seeking items with compelling stories. Other submissions have included ties with animal patterns and old dissection equipment.
Those interested in contributing to the participatory exhibition are encouraged to send a message with a photo of the object to direction@mnhn.lu.
