In a global geopolitical and climate context under strain, as a constant flood of information overwhelms us and undermines our vision of the future, the Gaîté Lyrique chooses joy and optimism as the engine of engagement.
October 2026 marks the return of the Gaîté Lyrique's major exhibitions with an invitation extended to the artist Stefan Sagmeister. Known to the general public for his visual creations for musicians such as the Rolling Stones, Lou Reed or the Talking Heads, Stefan Sagmeister moves between graphic design and contemporary art, from pop culture to the major issues of today.
With this new exhibition, Stefan Sagmeister invites us to step aside to see the world and its evolution over the long term, rather than through the prism of continuous news that often lacks perspective. With the whimsy that characterises him, Sagmeister combines design and data to deliver an optimistic message on many subjects that tend to improve over time. And he urges us to move out of paralysis and into action.
Drawing on data from the United Nations, the World Bank and other global and national databases, Sagmeister transforms numbers into captivating visual representations, accessible to the general public. The integration of these striking data visualisations on eclectic supports - old paintings, clothing, sculptural objects and installations - creates a bridge between past and present, while telling a hopeful story about progress over time.