La Chouette Est Rose: A Vibrant Exhibition at Basel’s Museum of Cultures

Basel’s Museum of Cultures invites visitors to step into a vibrant world of color with its new exhibition, “La chouette est rose – des histoires de toutes les couleurs,” which opened on April 24, 2026, and will run through January 24, 2027. The show explores how color is perceived, produced, and given meaning across cultures, using more than 200 objects from the museum’s global collections. Guided by a symbolic pink owl, the exhibition encourages visitors to engage with color through sight, touch, and interaction. Displays include vibrant feathers, dyed textiles, and pastel photographs, each telling a story about how color shapes identity, emotion, and cultural expression. Interactive stations and a hands-on workshop allow guests to experiment with color mixing and application, including a carnival mask-decorating activity inspired by Basel’s Fasnacht traditions. The exhibition also delves into the historical and technical origins of pigments, featuring insights into how dyes like carmine red were made from cochineal insects during the colonial era in South America. These elements highlight the labor, trade, and cultural significance behind the colors we see every day. According to Florence Roth, the exhibition’s curator, the pink owl serves as a friendly guide to help visitors of all ages explore color not just as a visual phenomenon, but as a language shaped by history, perception, and personal experience. “La chouette est rose” is presented in both French and German, reflecting Basel’s linguistic landscape, and is designed to be accessible and engaging for families, school groups, and art enthusiasts alike. The Museum of Cultures confirms that the exhibition will remain open daily during its nearly nine-month run, offering a timely and immersive cultural experience for locals and tourists.