Detailed Guide To Viewing Quai Branly Musuem Exhibitions | Current & Upcoming Shows
The Quai Branly Museum is a treasure trove of indigenous art pieces from outside of Europe. The museum boasts about 370,000 physical pieces and 700,000 iconographic items that celebrate the rich artistic diversity and culture of non-European cultures. The collection includes artworks and ancient objects from Oceania, Asia, Africa, and America. If you’re an art and history lover, the Quai Branly Museum is the perfect place to visit.
The museum hosts permanent and temporary exhibitions throughout the year. This page has all you need to know about the different exhibitions held here.
What is Quai Branly Museum?
Located in Paris, the Quai Branly Museum consists of a diverse collection of over a million objects and artworks celebrating the rich cultural history and heritage of the indigenous art forms found in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the American continents. The collection includes masks, ancient jewelry, textiles, statues, photographs, documents, ethnographic objects, paintings, musical instruments, and other artworks that represent the rich history and artistic sensibilities of non-Western cultures.
The five-storied museum is a tribute to the artistic brilliance of the indigenous people of colonized territories. A few masterpieces include the weaving carpets of Morocco, shadow theatre in Syria and Turkey, Orientalist paintings, a Mayan dish, a shadow theatre figure of the god Phra Narai (Vishnu), and ancient jewelry from Africa, among others.
Why Attend an Exhibition at Quai Branly Museum?
- Learn about the incredible history of the indigenous people and communities of Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the Americas.
- Marvel at some never seen before, rare collections of masks, textiles, jewelry, sculptures, documents, photographs, and ancient objects
- Get a glimpse of the works on display at the various exhibitions held at the museum throughout the year.
- Delve into the lives, creative processes, and artistic heritage of the indigenous communities of the non-European world.
- Visit the Bookshop, Reading Room and Media Library.
Exhibitions at Quai Branly Museum 2022
Currently, there are three exhibitions showing at the Quai Branly Museum. You will find an overview of all the exhibitions in the section below.
1. Wampum – Beads of Diplomacy in New France
Dates: 8 February 2022 – 15 May 2022
Timings: Tuesday - Sunday: 10:30 AM to 7 PM; Thursday: 10:30 AM to 10 PM; Closed on Monday.
Curated by: Paz Núñez-Regueiro and Nikolaus Stolle
Wampum, shell beads from the Atlantic Coast in North America that were originally a symbol of prestige, represent an important chapter in Native American and European history. The 50 pieces on display put the spotlight on the societies that evolved in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries. They also shed light on how wampum, a raw material, is transformed into beads and other objects like belts, is a trade resource, and a sign of power among Native American nations.
2. Dinh Q. Lê – Photographing the Thread of Memory
Dates: 8 February 2022 – 20 November 2022
Timings: Tuesday - Sunday: 10:30 AM to 7 PM; Thursday: 10:30 AM to 10 PM; Closed on Monday.
Curated by: Christine Barthe
The exhibition highlights the rich and diverse body of work of Vietnamese photographer Dinh Q. Lê, who uses several techniques to create images that blend different photography styles. His works shed light on the history of Vietnam through the people who have lived those experiences – genocide by the Khmer Rouge regime, images of migrants, victims of Angkor Vat, and the tragedy of crossing the Mediterranean.
3. On the Road to Chiefdoms of Cameroon – The Visible and the Invisible
Dates: 5 April 2022 – 17 July 2022
Timings: Tuesday - Sunday: 10:30 AM to 7 PM; Thursday: 10:30 AM to 10 PM; Closed on Monday.
Curated by: Sylvain Djache
This exhibition is a tribute to the chiefdoms of Cameroon. It highlights the tradition, power, culture, and art of the communities of Grassfields in west Cameroon. These traditional chiefs are the main caretakers of the unique heritage of the region – architecture, wooden sculptures, textiles, traditional dance forms, foundry, bead creations, and more. The 300 works on display are a celebration of this traditional heritage and the cultural influence the chiefdoms have had on contemporary art.
Past Exhibitions
The Quai Branly Museum opened to the public in 2006 and has, since then, held several exhibitions focusing on several themes like the artistic sensibilities of the Olmec Civilization, socially aware old African art, artistic creation and recreation in African culture, Asian martial arts, the historical and cultural importance of feather belts of the chiefdoms on the Society Islands, and the waterscapes of Northern Australia, to name a few. The museum has also hosted exhibits on the history of tattoos, pop culture, films, clothing, etc.
How To Book Tickets to the Quai Branly Museum Exhibitions?
Frequently Asked Questions About Quai Branly Museum Exhibitions
A. Currently, there are three exhibitions showing at the Quai Branly Museum – Dinh Q. Lê, and On the Road to Chiefdoms of Cameroon.
A. Some exhibitions may require you to buy separate tickets as the entry tickets include access to the museum’s permanent exhibitions and the temporary ones in the Garden Gallery.
A. The 'Wampum' exhibition at Quai Branly Museum is showing until 15 May 2022.
A. You can view the 'Dinh Q. Lê' exhibition at the Galerie Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière at Quai Branly Museum until 20 November 2022.
A. The 'On the Road to Chiefdoms of Cameroon' exhibition is showing at the Quai Branly museum from 5 April to 17 July 2022.
A. You will need to book tickets to the Quai Branly Museum in advance if you want to view the exhibitions being held there.
A. While you might just get tickets on the day of your visit, it is always advisable to book your Quai Branly Museum tickets in advance to avoid last-minute hiccups.
A. While there is no fixed number of exhibitions held annually, the museum does host permanent and temporary exhibits that change every six months.
A. The Quai Branly Museum hosted its first exhibition in June 2006.
A. Some of the most prominent exhibitions at the museum include 'Craving for Humanity', 'Arts of Fighting in Asia', 'Who is Gazing', 'Striking Iron', 'Paradise Palace', 'Tiki Pop', 'Tatoueurs Tatoués', and 'We Have Eaten the Forest'.
A. The Quai Branly Museum is famous for its vast collection of indigenous art pieces and cultural artefacts from Asia, Africa, Oceania, and the American continents.