Visions chamaniques: the Quai Branly museum's sensory exhibition takes us to Amazonia

In the 19th century, opium often served as a muse for Romantic artists, who allowed themselves to be transported to artificial paradises to nourish their art. On the other side of the world, similar and even more ancient practices can be found.

The Musée du Quai Branly highlights theshamanic art of the indigenous peoples of Amazonia. A practice linked to spirituality, it produces astonishing and fascinating works. Come and discover this unique genre through the Shamanic Visions exhibition, presented from November 14, 2023 to May 26, 2024.

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At the heart of the mysterious Peruvian Amazon live the Shipibo-Konibo. This community uses a hallucinogenic beverage,ayahuasca, to access visions and unique artistic inspiration. This practice enables Shipibo-Konibo artists to create their own visual identity. Colors, geometric patterns: these works are applied to all kinds of media: clothing, objects, pottery, jewelry... The first part of the exhibition highlights this Amazonian people, their art and culture. Several works bycontemporary Shipibo-Koniboartists are featured.

In the next chapter, the Musée du Quai Branly looks at how Shipibo-Konibo art is produced. Materials, artistic techniques, production processes, symbols and iconography: this art born of visions is increasingly fascinating the international scene.

The third part of the exhibition deals with the globalization of art. Once isolated in the Amazon, this indigenous people and their customs are gradually gaining notoriety. Their artistic practices, intimately linked to shamanic and religious practices, are now attracting Western artists, who are reinterpreting Shipibo-Konibo art in their own way. Films, audiovisual productions, digital art, virtual reality: tradition and modernity mix. The Musée du Quai Branly unveils a virtual reality audiovisual installation, the result of a collaboration between filmmaker Jan Kounen and the Shipibo-Konibo.

The Musée du Quai Branly takes us on a sensory voyage of discovery of ayahuasca and its practices. Not only paintings, but also songs, perfumes and immersive devices: all our senses are called upon to give us a close-up view of these very special visions. Shipibo-Konibo culture is revealed through these fascinating works.

At the end of the tour, a VR experience is offered, which reproduces the hallucinations experienced with ayahuasca. Warning: this experience is not recommended for those afraid of snakes and spiders: the images are striking, and immerse us in a vertigo-inducing universe!

Behind ayahuasca lies a whole world of inspiration for artists. Religious and cultural rituals, therapeutic practices, ethnological codes, openness to the world, political stance, blending of cultures: the Shipibo-Konibo's works are steeped in history. Come and discover them at the Musée du Quai Branly!