Plumes du paradis. Voyages d'un oiseau extraordinaire de Nouvelle-Guinée

Musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac

From the forests of Nouvelle-Guinée to the paintings of the great masters of the Northern school, a fascinating journey in the footsteps of birds of paradise, flamboyant creatures that have captivated the world for five centuries. This exhibition traces the circulation of feathers and representations of birds of paradise, artist-birds and makers of enchantment originating from the lush forests of Nouvelle-Guinée. Objects of desire, contemplation and inspiration, these spectacular beings have traveled across eras and continents. Bringing together nearly 190 works – adornments, paintings, taxidermied specimens, fashion pieces and accessories, art objects and illustrated books, the exhibition crosses the perspectives of natural history, art, ethnology, fashion and ecology. It sheds light on the way these birds have been collected, depicted, admired or transformed over time, in Oceania, Asia and Europe. Conceived in collaboration with scientists, academics and artists from Nouvelle-Guinée, the exhibition offers contemporary local readings. It invites us to rethink our connections with the living world and with knowledge, taking into account the pressing challenges of this century, and to discover these dazzling feathers with a renewed perspective.

Source: Paris Open Data ↗