The University of Tartu library is currently hosting a new exhibition called “How to rule the world”, and when I visited it, I stepped into a feline kingdom. But the exhibition doesn’t just aim to immerse you in cuteness, it also aims to educate. It explores different topics in civic education, such as power, influence, manipulation, authority, and the ever-growing power of social media.
Olga Einasto built the exhibition based on her fascination with the paradox of the feline creatures: independent yet deeply affectionate, distant yet influential. Among balls of yarn, the exhibition aims to make us reflect on ourselves. What are we influenced by? What do we listen to? And, most importantly, what are we influenced by without even noticing?
The exhibition room is filled with cat laws and pictures, combining science, art and humour to delve into serious topics. Right at the entrance, visitors are met with a royal cat, greeting them. It presents a symbol of soft power: cats do not give orders but somehow they still get what they want. It moves from ideas such as soft power to a kind of digital dictatorship, exploring how cats dominated the internet, what they represent, why humans get so attached to cats and vice versa, why cats got so attached to humans.
It combines science, art, and humour without being shallow. It made me laugh, but it also made me think about power and influence in a new way. I left the exhibition slightly more aware of the invisible forces shaping my everyday decisions, and maybe a little more tempted to rule the world like a cat: quietly, elegantly, and on my own terms.
“How to rule the world” visitors are not just observers. When I visited the exhibition, I became part of it. There’s a throne where I got on a crown and a cape and became a cat royal, trying to tactically dominate my surroundings. I also got to relax in a rocking chair, listening to purring. Sometimes these things sound silly, but for a cat-lover like me, it gave me reassurance that cuteness and learning can be combined playfully.
Some lessons coming from cats that we can take away from this exhibition are:
- Never underestimate a good nap
- Stretch before you jump
- If you fall, get up with style
- Seek sunshine and warmth
- Look after your people
- Set boundaries
- Leave when you need to
- Value unconditional love
The exhibition will run until December 2026. Do not miss the chance to step into the feline kingdom! You can find more information here.
All images are the author’s own unless otherwise specified.
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