So I didn’t get to Paris in time for Musée Quai Branly’s anniversary weekend festivities held 25 and 26 June. But I did manage to make it over in time to check out its Matahoata Marquesas exhibition and take a quick look at its exhibition devoted museum founder, President Jacques Chirac.
Good news for you, both exhibitions are still on. Matahoata runs only until the 24th of this month while the Chirac exhibition is on until 9 October 2016.
A fan of Polynesian art and culture, Matahoata, Arts and Society in the Marquesas Islands seemed as though it had been curated almost specifically for me. If you’re fascinated by traditional cultures, life in the South Pacific, or love all things tiki, this show is for you. In reality I’m sure curator Carol Ivory of Washington State University (whom I’m never met) had other concerns on her mind coming up with the 300 amazing pieces in the show that “reflect the strength of a culture that has transcended the ages and harnessed history.”
exhibits from Papua New Guinea in the main collections area of Musée Quai Branly
After lingering through Matahoata and browsing the Chirac exhibition, I enjoyed a stroll through the main collections area of the museum as well as taking a wander round the museum gardens set between the Seine and the Eiffel Tower. I was visiting Paris from elsewhere in France with just a few hours to play before catching the Eurostar back to London. Poking around Quai Branly was an excellent way to spend my time.
Musée Quai Branly is located at 37 Quai Branly, 75007 Paris. Find out more at quaibranly.fr/en.
