Main image via The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Have you ever wondered if penguins could visit the art museum together with humans one day?
The little penguins from the Kansas City Zoo went on a little field trip to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.
The best part was that not only did the penguins get to wander around the art museum, they stopped at some of the halls and admired some legendary masterpieces, especially the Baroque and Impressionist.
The museum’s director, Julian Zugazagoitia, commented that he expected the penguins to be drawn towards the “Water Lilies” painting by Monet, but as it turned out, they enjoyed Caravaggio’s piece more.
Image via The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (The penguins passing by a masterpiece by Monet)
The idea came about as an April Fools joke in the very beginning where Zugazagoitia called up the director of the Kansas City Zoon, Randy Wisthoff about plans to coordinate on the museum’s and zoo’s reopening.
"I was calling him to see how operations were going and when they were thinking about reopening. Then, as a joke, I said, 'Hey, why don't you bring some of your penguins to the museum?'" he said.
Image via The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
And to Zugazagoitia’s surprise, Wisthoff took it as a serious question and from a silly banter between friends, the idea of having penguins visiting the art museum became a reality.
Both parties were concerned in the very beginning for the paintings as well as the safety of the birds, but to everyone’s surprise, the penguins were similar to how usual guests tour the museum.
Perhaps this could be part of the new norm where penguins can have a day of touring an art museum and admire all the paintings as we would.
Watch their little field trip here: