Oceania by ACC Art Books

FOREWORD

The Royal Academy of Arts was founded four months after Captain

of New Zealand to the UK, and his predecessor, H.E. Sir Lockwood

James Cook left Plymouth in August 1768 on the first of his

Smith, have provided great support throughout. We are indebted to

three Pacific voyages, his mission to record the transit of Venus.

the members of the Honorary Committee whose advice and guidance

Connections between Cook and the Academy, however, go beyond

throughout have been of immense help. Numerous institutions

a shared 250th anniversary. William Hodges ra was the official

have lent significant objects: we would particularly like to thank

artist on Cook’s second voyage (1772–75), John Webber ra on the

the Museum der Kulturen Basel; the Museum of Archaeology and

third (1776–80). Sir Joshua Reynolds pra and William Parry ra both

Anthropology, Cambridge; the British Museum, London; the musée

painted Omai of Ra‘iātea, the second Pacific Islander to visit Europe,

du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac, Paris; and the Nationaal Museum

when he stayed in England in 1774–76.

van Wereldculturen, specifically the Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam; and

Despite these links, this exhibition deliberately avoids showing

Museum Volkenkunde, Leiden. We would also like to acknowledge

Oceania through European eyes. The thousands of islands scattered

the support of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa;

across the immensity of the Pacific were traversed and settled many

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki; and the Auckland War Memorial

centuries before the coming of Europeans, creating the rich and

Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira. It is particularly pleasing to thank those

varied culture that still permeates a region that encompasses more

contemporary artists who have agreed to participate: Mark Adams,

than a third of the world’s surface. ‘Oceania’ explores the art and

Taloi Havini and Stuart Miller, Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner, Yuki Kihara, the

culture of this vast area by examining works ranging from the historic

Mata Aho Collective, Fiona Pardington, Michael Parekowhai, John

to the contemporary – the first exhibition of its kind in London.

Pule and Lisa Reihana. Their work speaks of the contemporary

Curated by Professor Nicholas Thomas (University of Cambridge)

experience in Oceania, addressing the challenges of identity and

and Dr Peter Brunt (Victoria University of Wellington), with Dr Adrian

environmental threat but also the great natural beauty and cultural

Locke, supported by Rebecca Bray, the exhibition draws on the rich

promise of this extraordinary region. We pay tribute to the pioneering

ethnographic collections of museums in Europe and New Zealand,

Māori art historian Jonathan Mane-Wheoki (1943–2014) and Dr

and is centred on three main themes: Voyaging, Place-making

Christine Kron (1962–2017), director of the Museum Fünf Kontinente,

and Encounter.

Munich, who died during the making of the exhibition. Finally, we owe immense thanks to our exhibition partners:

Five years in the making, ‘Oceania’ has been a true partnership between the Royal Academy and the musée du quai Branly –

New Zealand, Kingdom of Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Creative New

Jacques Chirac in Paris, and this first collaboration has been a source

Zealand and The Ruddock Foundation for the Arts. Without their

of great satisfaction. Both institutions are deeply concerned with the

support this exhibition could not have been realised and for that we

promotion of dialogue among people and cultures, and the ambitious

are extremely grateful.

mission of ‘Oceania’ and the numerous items on display made it the perfect opportunity for the two museums to get closer. The significant logistical challenges of transporting these fragile works and installing them have been expertly overseen by Flora

Christopher Le Brun pra

Fricker and Belén Lasheras Díaz in London, and by the team from

President, Royal Academy of Arts

musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in Paris. Many individuals and institutional lenders have helped to make the exhibition a reality. H.E. Sir Jerry Mateparae, High Commissioner

Stéphane Martin President, musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac