Admire Them All! A Tribute to Pokémon | 2026

Admirez-les tous ! Une exposition hommage aux Pokémon
Admire Them All! A Tribute to Pokémon

Musée en Herbe
23 rue de l’Arbre-Sec, 75001 Paris
16 April – 6 September 2026

Yuree Kensaku, in collaboration with Galerie Enrico Navarra (Paris), has been invited to participate in Admirez-les tous ! Une exposition hommage aux Pokémon at the Musée en Herbe, presented in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon video game franchise.

Opening on 16 April 2026, the exhibition explores the origins and cultural impact of Pokémon, from its creation by Satoshi Tajiri to its enduring influence on contemporary art and popular culture. Through an immersive journey into the Pokémon universe, visitors encounter rare archival materials, including early trading cards, preparatory drawings for the animated series, vintage merchandise, and iconic gaming memorabilia. The exhibition also examines the connections between Japanese folklore, spirituality, and popular culture that helped shape the Pokémon phenomenon.

For the exhibition, Yuree presents Endangered Ili Pika and Popular Pikachu (2021), a pair of paintings made with acrylic, glitter, and collage on wood. The works juxtapose Pikachu—arguably the most recognizable Pokémon character—with the Ili Pika, a small mammal native to the Tian Shan Mountains of China that is widely believed to have inspired Pikachu’s design.

In one painting, Pikachu joyfully holds a celebratory cake, reflecting the character’s immense popularity and enduring presence in global youth culture. In the other, the endangered Ili Pika appears as a quieter counterpart, drawing attention to the vulnerable reality of the animal behind the icon. By placing the two side by side, Yuree invites viewers to reflect on the relationship between popular culture and the natural world, and how a beloved fictional character can sometimes overshadow its real-life origins.

Blending humor, vibrant colors, and a playful visual language with environmental awareness, Endangered Ili Pika and Popular Pikachu exemplifies Yuree’s ongoing interest in using familiar cultural symbols to address broader social and ecological concerns.

Endangered IIi Pika and Popular Pikachu, 2021, 33×41 cm and 30×44 cm, acrylic glitter and collage on wood

Photo Credits

Exhibition and installation views: © Yasefanprod / Musée en Herbe

Artwork photography: © Aroon Permpoonsophon. Courtesy of Yuree Kensaku