Experience Gauguin’s Tahiti this winter in Canberra-TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Paul Gauguin’s famous visions of Tahiti return to the Moana/Pacific in an exclusive exhibition at the National Gallery of Australia in Kamberri/Canberra this winter.
Tickets to Gauguin’s World: Tōna Iho, Tōna Ao are now on sale. From 29 June – 7 October 2024, visitors can experience the largest exhibition of Gauguin’s work ever to be presented in Australia.
Featuring over 130 works, the exhibition has been curated by Henri Loyrette, formerly director of the Musée d’Orsay and president-director of the Musée du Louvre. The exhibition traces Gauguin’s artistic journey and global travel – from his Impressionist beginnings in 1873 to his final destination in French Polynesia.
Drawn from 65 private and public collections across the world, this ambitious exhibition brings together important examples of Gauguin’s painting, drawing, engraving, sculpture and the decorative arts, along with cultural items from the Musée de Tahiti et des Îles. Visitors have the rare opportunity to experience these works together, consider new insights about the art and life of Gauguin, and view works which have never before been exhibited in Australia.
Mr Loyrette said, ‘This is the first exhibition devoted to Gauguin and Oceania, a survey of his entire corpus as seen from his final destination, the Marquesas.’
Paul Gauguin, Three Tahitians (Trois Tahitiens) 1899, National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh, presented by Sir Alexander Maitland in memory of his wife Rosalind 1960
‘When Gauguin landed in the Marquesas in September 1901, he knew that he had reached his journey’s end; he had at last found his ‘true homeland’, the place to which he had always aspired,’ said Mr Loyrette.
The natural environment that surrounded Gauguin during his time in the Moana nui a Kiwa inspired an entirely new pallete of brilliant colours that European audiences hadn’t experienced before.
To prepare for the return of Gauguin’s works to the Moana/Pacific region, the National Gallery invited Tahitian cultural knowledge holders Mr Tahiarii Yoram Pariente and Ms Hélene Lee Tin Hin to perform a ceremonial Karakia.
‘Having Gauguin’s works from Tahiti returning to the South Pacific, I can see the colours that are only possible in this part of the world. I think to have the works coming back here is going to bring us the shine that our sun and our nature gave to those paintings in those days – and we all need more of the light,’ said Mr Tahiarii Yoram Pariente.
Mr Tahiarii Yoram Pariente and Ms Hélene Lee Tin Hin in front of a special one-off illumination of Paul Gauguin, Three Tahitians (Trois Tahitiens) 1899, at the National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, 2024, National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh, presented by Sir Alexander Maitland in memory of his wife Rosalind 1960
National Gallery Director, Dr Nick Mitzevich said this is an important opportunity for audiences to contemplate the life and art of Gauguin through the perspective of our Moana/Pacific neighbours.
‘While we celebrate Gauguin’s ties to the Pacific region we need to address his legacy,’ Dr Mitzevich said.
‘Like other contemporary and historic artists, Gauguin’s life and legacy have come under increasing scrutiny. By today’s standards, Gauguin’s interactions in Polynesia at the end of the 19th Century would not be acceptable.’
‘We see this as an opportunity to connect with artists across the Moana/Pacific, elevate their voices, hear their stories and invite new perspectives to Gauguin’s life, art and legacy,’ Dr Mitzevich said.
Paul Gauguin, Bonjour Monsieur Gauguin, 1889, oil on canvas and panel, 74.9 x 54.8 cm, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles. The Armand Hammer Collection, Gift of the Armand Hammer Foundation
The National Gallery will host a display of works from contemporary artists from across the Moana/Pacific along with an activation by Aotearoa / Pasifika collective SaVāge K’lub led by artist, poet and acti.VĀ.tor, Rosanna Raymond MNZM. An extensive program of art talks, public programs, cultural events and activations, a podcast series and films will run throughout the season.
Over 65 leading public and private lenders from as far as the United Kingdom, Japan, São Paulo, Tahiti and Abu Dhabi have generously agreed to share works of art from their collections. The National Gallery is particularly grateful to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris for generously supporting the exhibition as the major lender with 17 exceptional works from their collection.
Gauguin’s World: Tōna Iho, Tōna Ao has been organised by the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Art Exhibitions Australia. The exhibition will be staged at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston later in 2024.
TICKETS
Adult: $35
Concession: $32
Members: $27
Kids (ages 5-16): $12
Kids (ages 0-5): free
Book HERE
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ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
CURATOR
Henri Loyrette, curator of Gauguin’s World: Tōna Iho, Tōna Ao
Members Preview Day & Gauguin Symposium | 28 June 2024
Exhibition Dates | 29 June 2024 to 7 October 2024
Gauguin Symposium | 28 June 2024
A symposium will be held to coincide with the opening of Gauguin’s World. Speakers include Henri Loyrette, Nicholas Thomas, Miriama Bono and Vaiana Giraud.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION TITLE
The exhibition’s Tahitian-language title Tōna Iho, Tōna Ao was developed by Dr Hiriata Millaud, an experienced linguist who is also head of the Archives in Tahiti and Adviser to the Vice-President of the Government of Tahiti.
Tōna Iho: meaning Gauguin’s soul, spirit, heart, thought, ideas, opinions, views.
Tōna Ao: meaning all what constitute and shape Gauguin’s world.
CATALOGUE
A fully illustrated publication will be published alongside the exhibition. Edited by Henri Loyrette and featuring his major new essay on Gauguin, the publication includes contributions from Gauguin experts Nicholas Thomas, Vaiana Giraud and Norma Broude.
