Exhibition: CATS!

Cats have shaped our culture in the past and today. Whether in memes, videos or in our own living room, hardly any animal fascinates people worldwide as much as the cat. But where does this special relationship come from? The exhibition CATS! invites you to discover the eventful cultural history of this astonishingly adaptable animal. Starting with the Egyptian goddess Bastet, through the cat as a prized mouser and mysterious companion in myths and tales, to today's house cats and big cats, the exhibition shows how differently cats have been perceived throughout history. With a varied selection of exhibits from around the world, contemporary artworks and cat content from Hamburg households, CATS! sheds light on the contradictory roles of this animal: cute and useful, sacred and disreputable, a lucky charm and a symbol of bad luck. From a transcultural perspective, the exhibition also looks at how cats are portrayed, politically instrumentalised and spread through the media in different societies, from art history to pop culture. Especially suitable for schools: the exhibition offers numerous