Musée du Quai Branly – homage to our primitive instincts
Musée du Quai Branly
A recent visit to the Musée du Quai Branly was meant to highlight the vast social and cultural differences between indigenous communities in Oceania, Asia, Africa and South America and those inherent to modern day liberal capitalist societies. Indeed, attitudes regarding economics, architecture, fashion and tradition are hugely dissimilar. For instance, facial masks made uniquely from spider webs are considered to represent up most levels of splendour and beauty amongst certain communities living on Oceanic islands. The sight of such garments hanging in the window display of a Parisian boutique would defiantly stir up an alarming controversy. Perfumed women, intact with their over-pampered poodle would be seen filing out of the Galaries Lafayettes quicker than a French civil servant after a pay rise.
The museum grounds are bursting with vegetation from all four of the earth’s corners. Huge facades manufactured from coloured timber create an interesting blend between modern day architecture and nature. The rapidity of the city is left behind to be replaced by a world of virile tribes and indigenous settlements; a world where the intellectual drive within artistic circles can be found in their glorification of war and male prowess. Many of the museum’s artefacts were apparently reserved for male eyes only. Proof of the machismo which exists in such communities does however establish a solid link with France’s very own culture of male domination in both political and social spheres.
Moving westwards towards Africa and Latin America, it becomes evident that the human body is deployed in an array of fashions; all of which are ways to release life’s anguishes through bodily expression. Naked statues of men and woman, group dancing and vocal experimentation are held in stark contrast to the Parisian bohemian who smokes and drinks his way to liberty. Third world does not necessarily mean third rate.
Museum front
Upon leaving the grounds of the Musée du Quai Branly I expected to teleport across the cultural boundary of equatorial indigenous communities to western multi-racial communities with great surprise. Instead, I was reminded of perhaps our most characteristic primitive instinct; that of reproduction. The glorification of male virility within the museum was reincarnated in Paris’ very own phallic tribute; the Eiffel Tower. We are after all only human.
Infognito
Screen Trek
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