OPEN POST: Cute Exhibition at Somerset House! Does Cute Ever Go Too Far?

A.I. Generated Cute Cat, but something went a touch wonky. 

In the bustling heart of cosmopolitan London, Somerset House has opened its doors to an exhibition so adorable it might just make your heart explode with sugar-coated glee. From January 25 to April 14, 2024, "Cute" takes you on a whimsical rollercoaster through the saccharine, syrupy world of cuteness that has, for reasons beyond mere mortals' understanding, taken contemporary culture by storm.

The masterminds behind the "Cute" exhibition have embarked on a noble quest to dissect cuteness's fluffy, fuzzy essence. With contributions from artists like Mark Leckey, who probably thought, "Why not?" and Sean-Kierre Lyons, who likely mused, "Cuteness, eh? Sounds fun!" the show is a veritable smorgasbord of contemporary art, music, fashion, toys, video games, and social media phenomena.

Cuteness is often synonymous with images of wide-eyed kittens and puppies, babies with cheeks you want to squish, and an assortment of other diabetes-inducing motifs. I find the AI images of cute kittens to be cuteness sliding into definite that shit is creepy territory.

Described as a "mind-melting assault on the senses," the exhibition is essentially a cuteness bazooka aimed straight at your eyeballs. It kicks off with kittens because, of course, it does, featuring Louis Wain's illustrations of them as the mischievous little furballs we all know and secretly serve.

But wait, there's a twist! Just when you thought it was all sunshine and rainbows, the exhibition turns sharply into the alleyways of capitalism and the not-so-innocent side of cuteness. It's like finding out your favorite teddy bear is actually a stock market mogul in disguise. Visitors are encouraged to ponder the sinister question: "Is everything cute really as innocent as it seems?".

I read once that our reactions to cute things reside in the same part of our brains that experiences rage. It's called Cute Aggression, and I get the feeling if I see this and take it all in, I will start tearing apart the exhibits like a woman possessed because I am overloaded and freaked the fuck out. 

When computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee, credited as the inventor of the web, was asked in 2014 to name an unexpected use of the internet, he answered: "Kittens."

I also learned that all the Hello Kitty stuff in the exhibit is from one fan's expansive collection. I collect things but that is some boss level commitment.