Paris's Quai Branly museum has a good track record of bringing the art of little-known cultures to the attention of worldwide audiences. The Philippines can hardly been described as 'little-known', of course, but – unbelievably, until now – its art and culture have not been the subject of any specialist exhibitions.
This groundbreaking show, therefore, shines a welcome spotlight on the diverse ethnicities, religions and cultures shared amongst the country's 7,000 islands and population of 92 million. Its location in the Pacific between Taiwan and Indonesia, as well as its early settlement by the Austronesians circa 4000 BC, have engendered distinct forms of cultural expression.
Red and white appliqué hanging, Philippines, used for weddings and other religious holidays. Musée du Quai Branly
The exhibition has been arranged as three sections: the traditional works of the mountains and valleys of the highlands in the northern Philippines; warrior textiles, costumes and ornaments; and the influence of the maritime network on the coasts and southern archipelagos.
