A small gift for the start of this year 2012, which I hope is excellent for everyone, with this first cultural article and a little treat as a bonus.
The name ‘Maori’ evokes a distant place that is often ill-defined, shaped by colonial conflicts and a deep affirmation of a strong social and cultural identity.
The Musée du Quai Branly exhibition, “MAORI, Their treasures have a soul“, on display until January 22, 2012, showcases both ancestral Maori art objects and works by contemporary artists.
First of all, a bit of history: settled in New Zealand since the 7th century, the Maori have only been independent since 1835. Their language, banned by the New Zealand government, only became official in 1987, and with their lands being despoiled, there were no Maori hectares left by 1975. All of this explains why the affirmation of their identity is paramount in their history and expressed so intensely in their art.
This exhibition is also an opportunity for many unique events: Haka dance workshops, creative workshops led by artist Ianna Andréadis that invite you to discover Tiki crafting; guided storytelling visits and shows offered by storyteller Céline Ripoll to learn more about Maori culture; meetings and workshops with visual artists George Nuku to learn the art of Maori tattoos and Reuben Paterson to discover his paintings and installations; and finally, screenings of New Zealand films and documentaries, most of which are being shown for the first time in France.
Bonus Tip: workshops, meetings, and cinema sessions are free to access, subject to availability and upon presentation of proof of entry to the museum (with the exception of storytelling tours).
And now let’s move on to the GIVEAWAY!!!!!
Indeed, if you have never had the chance to visit this superb museum or if you want to go back to discover this exhibition, this contest is for you!
Today I am offering you the chance to win 2×2 tickets to discover the collections of the permanent exhibition of the museum as well as the Maori exhibition I just told you about!
To participate, there is nothing complicated: just leave a comment below this article and a draw will determine the 2 winners. Good luck to everyone!
Rules:
– Contest limited to Metropolitan France
– 1 extra chance if you are a fan of the blog’s Facebook page (don’t forget to leave your Facebook username in your comment if you want to benefit from an extra chance)
– 1 entry per IP address
– contest start date: Monday, January 2 – entry deadline: Sunday, January 8, with results the following day on the blog
EDIT from January 9, 2012:
Thank you all for participating!
After the draw, the two winners are Blandine and aldo. I will send you both an email very soon!
Photo Credits: Musée du Quai Branly
