Marquesas Islands
The Marquesas, an isolated archipelago in the heart of the Pacific, is a place where the gods and ancestors live on through wood and stone sculptures.
Marquesan craftsmen, heirs to a thousand years of know-how, perpetuate the techniques and motifs that tell the story of their people.
Each work is imbued with the legends of Tiki, the creator god, and the spirits that inhabit these sacred islands.
The Australs
The Austral Islands, in southern Polynesia, are famous for their traditional textiles and wood carvings.
Australe artisans use weaving techniques handed down from generation to generation to create tapa (beaten bark cloth) and pa’ari (baskets).
Local legends tell the story of Rata, a cultural hero whose exploits are immortalized in sculptures and oral histories.
The Society Islands
The Society Islands, including Tahiti and Bora Bora, are often considered the beating heart of Polynesia.
Here, art reflects the rich interaction between Polynesian and European cultures.
Sculptures and paintings illustrate the stories of Oro, the god of war and fertility, and the ritual practices of the ancient temples, or marae.
Traditional dances, the ‘ori tahiti, are also a performative art form illustrated in the works on display.
The Tuamotus
The Tuamotus, a vast archipelago of coral atolls, are famous for their pearls and ancestral fishing techniques.
Works of art here reflect a symbiosis with the sea, using natural materials such as shells and coral.
The motifs of the tattoos and sculptures recount the legends of Tangaroa, the god of the sea, and the ancestors who sailed these infinite waters.
The Gambiers
The Gambier Islands, on the outskirts of French Polynesia, are an important spiritual center.
Sculptures and works of art here are deeply influenced by the Christian traditions introduced by missionaries in the 19th century, while retaining a strong Polynesian imprint.
Stone churches and carved crucifixes bear witness to this unique fusion of cultures and beliefs.
Where the art and history of French Polynesia’s five archipelagos come to life.