The Shape of Time: Art and Ancestors of Oceania exhibition will close its doors on Monday at the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ), a statement said. Over 120 works from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's (The Met) unparalleled collection tells the story of creative expression and innovation over the centuries throughout the Pacific Islands.
These extraordinary objects, presented while the Michael C Rockefeller Wing is being renovated, have travelled for the first time since Nelson Rockefeller gifted the collection to The Met in 1969. Curated by Dr Maia Nuku (Ngai Tai), Evelyn AJ Hall and John A Friede, curator for Oceanic Art at The Met, New York, The Shape of Time takes a fresh look at the visual arts of Oceania to explore the deeply rooted connections between Austronesian-speaking peoples.
The artefacts on display are noted for their artistic and historic value, varying from wooden sculptures to items of personal adornment and textiles. The artworks come from the many peoples of the region—from the insular region of Southeast Asia to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the island archipelagoes of the north and eastern Pacific—and date from the 18th century to the present.
Rather than conform to a strictly linear or regional presentation, the installation demonstrates the interconnectedness of Pacific Islanders and their rich cultural heritage by presenting clusters of artworks in cultural groupings within three thematic sections: Voyaging and the Ocean, Ancestors and the Land, and Time and Agency. Each of these sections explores ideas pertinent to the expansive visual language of Oceanic art and anchors the art in an overarching conceptual landscape.
The exhibition is open from 9am to 7pm. Entry is free for Qatar residents while adult non-residents have to pay QR50 each. 'The Shape of Time: Art and Ancestors of Oceania' was previously on view at the Museum of Art Pudong, Shanghai, from June 1 to August 20, 2023, the statement added. The exhibition is supported by Audi.
