Oceania Exhibition, Wellington NZ

Te Papa (the National Museum of New Zealand) and the Wellington City Gallery are currently holding a combined exhibition called "Oceania".

Link: http://www.oceania.org.nz/pages/default.aspx

The museum has various artifacts from the first days of European contact on display, including ship's charts, artworks from Cook's voyages, and even botany specimens collected by Joseph Banks. My favourite however was the 4-metre tall tamtam from the New Hebrides they had on display.

The gallery is showing a range of contemporary artworks devoted to the South Pacific. Buying a ticket gives you entry to both venues.

CN

PS While you're there, don't miss the Pacific items on permanent display at Te Papa, which are not to be sniffed at:

The feathered cloak and helmet given to Captain Cook by the Hawaiian King Kalani'opu'u on 26 January 1779 (conveniently hidden under a staircase where few visitors ever notice them....)

CN

Toto, j'ai l'impression que nous ne sommes plus au Kansas !

[ Edited by: Club Nouméa 2011-08-15 07:29 ]

[ Edited by: Club Nouméa 2011-08-15 07:30 ]

And here is a link providing an overview of the works shown at the city gallery, starting with my favourite; "The Polynesian Connection" (1926-27) by Len Lye:

http://www.oceania.org.nz/ImaginingThePacific/Pages/Object.aspx?irn=3266

CN