A true discovery of modern Melanesian art... The Musée du Quai Branly is devoting an exhibition to Somuk, an artist from New Caledonia, from November 19, 2019 to March 8, 2020. A painter considered"the most learned man in the community" by the inhabitants of Gagan, his hometown north of Bougainville, the first to receive a "Western" education.
A true role model for Dubuffet's entourage, Somuk is also"one of the few Melanesian artists of the early 20th century of whom a significant number of works have been preserved". In all, some 70 works, including photographs and objects, are on display in the museum, putting the artist's drawings and their interpretations into context. The exhibition also showcases the numerous drawing commissions from missionaries and anthropologists of the time, on which Somuk worked, composing "complex scenes".
The exhibition, the result of nearly fifteen years' research, paints"a double portrait of a Melanesian political figure and a singular artist who has become a symbol of recognition for contemporary art in the Pacific". It concludes with a series of contemporary drawings inspired by his work, based on the representation of Bougainville's Civil War, and questioning"the artist's current legacy".
A rather short retrospective, but one that provides a good insight into the artist's work through numerous sculptures and drawings, as well as his influence on future generations. The exhibition is also associated withUnesco's International Year of Indigenous Languages. Somuk, a real character"whose creations represent a considerable corpus", without equivalent today in Melanesian artistic production prior to the 70s. Shall we go, friends?
Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.
Dates and Opening Time
From November 19, 2019 to March 8, 2020
Location
Musée du quai Branly Jacques Chirac
37 Quai Jacques Chirac
75007 Paris 7
Access
Metro line 9 "Iéna" station RER C "Pont de l'Alma" station
Prices
Tarif réduit: €7
Plein tarif: €10
Official website
m.quaibranly.fr
More information
Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30am to 7pm, Thursdays from 10:30am to 10pm. Closed on Mondays.
