Vanuatu – untouched paradise
Krzysztof Muskalski photographs
James Cook discovered Vanuatu for rest of the world in 1774. He was attracted by the glow bursting from the Yasur volcano at the Tanna Island, which brightened the sky of South Pacific. Since that time the world of secret rites, ceremonies and customs, the world of unsubdued nature closed on 83 islands started to gradually open for the outer world.
Vanuatu is the most culturally diverisified country in the world. Its 190 000 inhabitians speek 113 languages and dialects. This astonishing diversification is caused by 3000 years long migration of people from various Pacific islands, which composed unusual cultural mosaic of the archipelago. Ni-Vanuatu’s, as inhabitants call themselves, affection towards the tradition is such a strong, that it came through turbulent colonial times and prevailed up today. On the largest islands we can still admire many traditional ceremonies and rituals. The art, in various forms, like decoration of body with tattoos and making masks, headdresses and statuets constitutes integral part of rituals and social life of the villagers. This atmosphere has an important influence on the contemporary art, it is here were for many years world well known, outstanding artists Nicolai Michoutouchkine and Aloi Pilioko are creating their paintings (my friends forever).
I know the author of the exhibiotion, Chris Muskalski, for a quarter of century. I assisted him with my advice and help, when he, with the knapsack was penetrating my Asian parishes. Today, this doctor of medicine, still juvenile and full of passion, is still wondering about far regions in order to make not fully discovered worlds closer to his countrymen. The exhibiotion devoted to the Vanuatu is the best example of that.
Vanuatu – The Untouched Paradise – still charming with its beauty, magic, ethnographical mosaic – is not yet contaminated with massive tourism. Let it exist forever and don’t let it be come the Lost Paradise.
Andrzej Wawrzyniak
Director of the Asia and Pacific Museum
Warsaw, 2003
Exhibitions:
· Hermitage Gallery, Royal Łazienki Museum at Warsaw – Asia and Pacific Museum, Warsaw 2003;
· Tony Halik Explorers’ Museum, Toruń 2004.
· Author's meeting. Museum of Częstochowa – Wedding Palace, Częstochowa 2005.
· Traffic Club - Asia and Pacific Museum – Warsaw 2009
· Exhibition and author's meeting. Under Arcades Gallery – Częstochowa 2019
Photo Digital Processing: Rober Bich - netgaleria.pl