While many people are stuck at home due to the pandemic, Penguins are having a whale of a time, wandering about, learning languages, and now, as we recently found out, developing a new found appreciation for art.
In what should have been a simple joke, a small group of penguins was taken to a museum, but their reactions were mind-blowing, prompting new research.
Penguins have always been known to act and even speak like humans; however, having an admiration for paintings is just a whole new level in itself.
The penguins were taken to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, where they paused to acknowledge some Impressionist work by master artists.
Three penguins, who by all accounts should have preferred tropical fish, watched compositions by renowned artists like Caravaggio and Monet.
The museum’s director, Julián Zugazagoitia, presumed that the little penguins would be fascinated by the “Water Lilies” masterpiece.
He figured the birds would be attracted to the relaxing aura of the painting, which is a favorite for many. However, the penguins appeared to prefer Baroque music.
In the vibrant room, the birds paused and appeared to truly embrace the paintings, but it is still unknown what factors drew their attention most.
So how did this phenomenon come about?
As an April Fool’s prank, the museum director contacted his pal at the Kansas City zoo to speak about how they could harmonize their reopening phase in the midst of the pandemic.
He then jokingly suggested that they bring a few penguins to hang out at the museum, expecting them to laugh and blow off the idea.
However, he took it seriously, leading to a coordinated effort between the zoo and the museum to organize the visit.
They were initially anxious for the safety of the art and the birds, but the caretakers kept a keen eye on the penguins waddling around the room.
Zugazagoitia said the penguins are very similar to the museum’s usual guests. He explained that the penguins have been fairly social and exploratory, behaving as the typical human visitor would.
As the birds toured the museum, the presenter spoke to them in Spanish as they looked and listened attentively.
A video was posted on YouTube that promptly went viral and received attention from the international media.
The director was most surprised to see how many people enjoyed the program. He believes their reaction is an indication of how times have changed, and people want to see more light-natured, fun, and entertaining news, especially amid a crisis.
I think this enabled an incredible sense of happiness and relaxation. Even though the zoo and museum of art are separate entities, when they were unified, the experience was remarkable for everyone involved.
Most surprising was how the adorable penguins behaved without any issues, allowing the process to transition smoothly.
This may very well be the start of something new for both the museum and zoo.
In the meantime, due to the ongoing health crisis, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art will be unavailable while the determinations are made about how to reopen safely.
These very difficult junctures have enabled the entities to utilize their hidden skills and to think outside of the box to keep them afloat.
The Museum director emphasized that they must deliver a strong and stimulating website that truly depicts the vitality of the museum, with the hope that they are fulfilling the interest and intellect of the people to want to visit them once the pandemic has dissipated.
He hopes that people will understand that there is always something new to learn at the museum and feel compelled to visit.
