I couldn't believe my luck when I discovered that the Musée Du Quai Branly Jacques Chirac was hosting an exhibition entitled The Taínos and Kalinagos of the Caribbean. I had to visit in order to see what was on display as it alligns with the subject matter of my research paper.
Perhaps not so surprising was the size of the exhibition, tucked away in the corner of this massive building, surely the MDQBJC is in possession of more than what was on display? The British Museum displays a miniscule percentage of the artefacts it owns, I can only assume that the same applies here. The other question that bugs me is why a temporary exhibition? The MDQBJC was opened in 2006 to feature the indigenous art and cultures of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas; I would have therefore expected a permanent display on offer.
The museum has endured it's share of controversy over the artefacts it owns, and rightfully too. Although I have enjoyed the privilege of viewing these stolen items up-close and in the same place I would prefer that they were on loan to the museum from the original owners. Museums across Europe and the US remain guarded about their collections and reluctant to admit their crime (they also don't like their employees voicing this, as I found out at the expense of my job at the Natural History Museum).
Fun facts:
Apparently the museum displays around 0.35% of the objects it owns
The Quai Branly is the newest of the major museums in Paris
Links:
Tainos et Kalinagos des Antilles
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