For my last week’s post, I want to discuss my visit to the Musée du quai Branly. This strays a little from my usual green spaces post. I think it’s important to include this though because so many of the museums and historic places we visited were very focused around ancient Roman, Greek, and European culture. I feel like there is a whole culture of France I never got to experience because of this.
When I looked around the country, at least the places I was able to visit, I noticed so many Africans and Black people, Asians from various countries, etc. I met several African French people who began to introduce me to the histories and the cultures of People of Color in France. I’m thankful for them. Without them, I would only know about some musicians or writers who spent time in France, or about Josephine Baker. In fact, there is much to discover about other cultures in France.
One friend took me to a street in Le Marais that was full of only Chinese shops. I felt like I was transported to a shopping street in Anywhere, China. It was nostalgic. I want to learn more about the people who are there. From the first week in Paris, my brain has been confused to see Chinese people and then hear them speak French. In class, we learned a little about the history of Vietnamese in France, but we didn’t discuss Thai, Japanese, Chinese, or other Asian cultures.
After being frustrated by my experience at the Louvre where I searched forever yet struggled to find the African American and indigenous Art, I voiced this frustration to a French African friend. They told me about the Musée du quai Branly. So I knew I had to take a trip. I didn’t think I would get there because I struggled with my health a bit during the last two weeks. Eventually, I made it.
The first thing I noticed was Le Mur Vegetal. It’s a giant wall of the building which is filled with plants. It really stands out on the street. Even Parisians were stopping to look and take photos. The wall has 376 plant species on it from around the world. That’s pretty amazing.
The inside was equally amazing. The multicultural aspects of this museum were just mind-blowing. I even learned about indigenous cultures in places like Greenland. In addition, it was well-made.
Entering the museum, you walk up a ramp which features projected art called the river. The river flows up and around a spiral walkway. It’s made up of all the names of all the indigenous cultures throughout the world.
The map of the building was just a circle. You follow the arrows on the floor and go wherever they point. There are several upstairs areas accessible by elevators. Small rooms branch off from the main floor housing special collections such as a Muslim space and an area for African relics of power.
Some of the areas felt mystical, private, or scary. Often times I felt transported to somewhere else.
Many of the displays consisted of projected videos of indigenous people building homes, creating art, telling fortunes, etc. I could have spent much more than 4 hours in this space.
Here are some of the cultural displays.
Unlike at the Louvre, each area was clearly defined. The different cultures were marked my a map and plaques indicating the area of origin. Each area consisted of more than 50 pieces of art.
Upstairs, there was a weapons display area.
Also, a germ display. They had models of the SARS virus, information on germ discovery, and old science equipment. There was a bug exhibit complete with creepy bug sounds.
There was an area for permanent African display items too.
The items here were encased in glass which mirrored the shape of the objects inside. There was also comfortable seating with couches, spinning chairs, and plush seats to allow for long-term viewing and just resting.
An Vietnamese artist, Dinh Q. Le, was featured on the top floor as well. His art is made of pieces which are woven together. This process creates a giant mural which reveals a different picture depending on the angle you view it from. He also had video and hanging art installations there. These images are best viewed in person as the camera couldn’t capture the changing perspectives properly.
Finally, encapsulated in a round class room which stretched for 3 floors, was the African instruments storage area. These items were not necessarily on display but you could still view them through the tinted glass. I couldn’t capture the images clearly in photos. I did try.
Leaving the room, I saw the tallest wooden carving I’ve ever seen. The wood was all one piece, intricately carved. I’m not even sure how they got it into the building.
These are just a few images. The collection is amazing. The museum also has a large garden where they host events. People can relax in beach chairs by bamboo. There is a restaurant, a study room, a lecture space, and a library. It’s quite an amazing space. It’s my hope that this wonderful museum will be added to the future Paris trip as a way to diversify the museum visits.