MUSEUM NEWS
50
A Season of Discovery
PARIS—Spring at the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques
Chirac promises to be full of discoveries. Peru before the
Incas, an exhibition that was the subject of an in-depth
article in the winter issue of this magazine, remains on
view until April 1, 2018. Paintings from Afar, open until
January 6, 2019, uses the Parisian museum’s collection
of paintings as a springboard for an examination of
Western perceptions of foreign peoples, societies, and
places. Some of the most beautiful works highlighted in
this exhibition can be seen in the Portfolio section of this
issue. Another show, Ghosts and Hells: The Underworld
in Asian Art, on view from April 10 until July 15, 2018,
explores the realm of Asian stories about fantastical beings
through religious art, theater, cinema, contemporary
artworks, and manga. Lastly, The Little Explorer’s Box of
Delights, at the museum from May 22 until October 7,
2018, will focus on how foreign cultures have been represented
to children in popular French culture. Through
an analysis of children’s literature from the nineteenth
century until the present, it offers a reflection on education
and the concept of otherness.
New Caledonian Trajectories
MOULINS—The Musée Anne-de-Beaujeu is presenting
some 100 objects selected from its non-European art
collection, on view until September 16, 2018. Including
artworks never before exhibited, as well as others borrowed
from prestigious institutions such as the Musée
du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac and the Musée des
Confluences, Trajectoires Kanak. Histoires de voyages
en Nouvelle-Calédonie (Kanak Trajectories: Histories
of Voyages in New Caledonia) explores three events in
New Caledonian history. The first is the story of French
colonist Léon Moncelon, who moved to New Caledonia
with his family in 1873. This is followed by that of Pierre
Poyti, a mixed-blood New Caledonian, who was raised in
France, and, finally, by that of the New Caledonian chief
Poindi-Patchili, who resisted European settlement of his
territory. A group of thirty-six New Caledonian weapons,
including paddles, clubs, spear throwers, and clubs that
Moncelon collected and gave to the museum is presented
along with artifacts associated with Poindi-Patchili. These
objects lend insight into the figures on the New Caledonian
scene in the late nineteenth century—the autochthonous
people, the colonials, the missionaries, and the
scientists. The exhibition also sheds light on the expeditions
into the region and describes the environment, ritual
universe, and ornaments of the New Caledonian people.
LEFT: Standing fi gure. Kanak,
New Caledonia.
Wood.
Musée des Confl uences, Lyon,
inv. 60003333.
Photo: Service presse/mab.
RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM:
Tutelary mask by
Naynathong Khamyi,
Thailand, 2013.
Palm spathe, paint, bamboo basketry.
Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques
Chirac, inv. 70.2013.35.2.
© MQB – JC.
Photo: Claude Germain.
Nuo mask, kaishan: He
Who Opens the Mountain.
Dejiang, China. 20th century.
Wood, pigment.
Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques
Chirac, inv. 70.2001.17.1.
© MQB – JC. Photo: Patrick Gries.
Shadow puppet. Indonesia.
Wood, pigment.
Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques
Chirac, inv. 71.1978.23.427.
© MQB – JC. Photo: Claude Germain.
ABOVE LEFT: Photo of the
Kanak chief Poindi-Patchili.
Mitchell Library, Sydney.
Phoot: Service presse/mab.
LEFT: Club. Kanak,
New Caledonia.
Wood.
Ex Moncelon Collection?
Musée Anne-de-Beaujeu, inv. X.0.5.
Photo: Service presse/mab.