Juan Ortiz-Apuy. Tropicana

A genuine foray into the world of objects, the youth exhibition Tropicana seeks to examine the way we consume today the better to understand its future impacts.

When confronting the environmental crisis, in which unbridled production of goods is threatening the diversity of the natural world, it’s essential that we take an interest in how things are displayed, commercialized and consumed, whether in brick-and-mortar store windows or online.

This fourth youth exhibition, specially designed for kids and teenagers aged 6 to 14, casts a critical eye on modern consumer society and advertising aimed at children, which often features animals, colours, sounds and shapes designed to appeal to them. For the occasion, Montreal-based Costa Rican artist Juan Ortiz-Apuy has created a visual and sound environment allowing visitors to explore the language of advertising and its ability to act on us, in sometimes unexpected ways. The artist based his research on new marketing strategies that have emerged in the social media era, i.e., the phenomenon of “unboxing” and ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) videos. A genuine foray into the world of objects, this exhibition seeks to examine the way we consume today—always with a touch of humour—the better to understand its future impacts. Besides a guided tour, children can take part in a workshop designed to awaken their senses, creativity and critical thinking. Observation games to be completed with family members round out the experience.

This exhibition benefits from the financial support of the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Conseil des arts de Montréal and the Caisse de la Culture.

See all exhibitions conceived by artists specifically for children.