The legendary costume workshop at the Musée de la civilization in Quebec City, which has delighted thousands of children over the past thirty years, is giving way to My house, a new museum experience for children aged 3 to 8. In an interactive, playful and sensory approach, the exhibition skilfully manages to unite the warmth of home and the discovery of art and culture.
Before entering this oversized house, our eyes naturally turn to the “garden” an open space in which the children can romp before, after or even during the visit. A huge watercolor and stencil fresco by the artist Anne Côté serves as a backdrop, a decor that evokes the forest and the mildness of summer days. Then begins the tour of this famous house, which has four magnificently decorated rooms, adorned with numerous objects—nearly 200 from the Museum’s various collections—and each inhabited by a strange bird. First, the Victorian-style living room, in the center of which sits a huge yellow sofa, is the refuge of Napoleon Dodo, a diplomat with a passion for travel and history. On the walls, family portraits, paintings by Théophile Hamel and Antoine Plamondon, rub shoulders with more wacky stuff, including a portrait of the four host birds. Several objects enhance the visit and encourage children to search. Thus, a cupboard opens, in which curious eyes will discover old spinning tops, miniature irons, dolls and more. Added to this pleasure offered to the eyes are puzzle games and a “seek and find”.
The kitchen and other rooms
From the living room, we go to the kitchen inhabited by Colette Poule. Room of all delights, bright, in the center of which stands a refectory table overflowing with colorful cakes, breads, fruits and above all appetizing smells. We only have to lift the lids for our taste buds to start salivating when our eyes have already put us in good condition in this warm room. Undoubtedly the most attractive of the four, at least for the little Arthur present during our visit, who confided to us that he preferred it to the others because there was plenty of “good junk food” there.
The kitchen, like the living room, is also intended to be interactive. Drawers open onto various period tools — butter churn, sugar mold — that children can associate with archival videos.
After this gourmet episode, story time is welcome in the bedroom, refuge of Nestor Hibou. Here again, oversize is king with this bed with multiple mattresses reminiscent of that of the princess with a pea. Dim lights combine with the sounds of crickets. We then go to the bathroom, held by Captain Goéland. A true plunge into a seaside universe. The sound of birds and water can be heard by those who approach the freestanding bathtub in the center of the room. Where the seabed is full of mysteries.
Bringing the Museum to life
These rooms are interconnected by secret passages, which the most curious will enjoy taking. Added to these spaces is an attic, in which we can make drawings on the wall thanks to our movements, a vestibule, a garden and a photo booth closet — with a photo that is later found in the Living Room. For Stéphan La Roche, President and CEO, the mission of this new exhibition is to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, to offer a first contact with the museum world and with that of collections. The children thus experience an immersion in this universe, having the chance to touch, feel, see, move, bring the museum to life. Their daily life becomes in some way museum territory, or is it rather this mythical place that invites itself into their lives? Several objects are close at hand, others, of course, placed under glass, but no less accessible to the eye. Moreover, some accessories for children with visual impairments will be available so that they can better appreciate the exhibition.
All the senses are thus solicited in these pieces which teem with a thousand and one details, where the curious eye could get lost for several hours. Where attentive hearing will be equally served, where touch will discover the fluffy textures of soft rolls, where the nose will be enchanted by sweet smells. Only the taste remains unsatisfied in front of the cakes adorned with a few raspberries sprinkled with icing sugar. Delights that seem so real that we would like, like little Arthur, to put our teeth into them.
The exhibition will open on Sunday, and all ticketing revenue collected that day will be donated to the Red Cross to help victims of the conflict in Ukraine.