Samoan dancers gave an energetic performance at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra, last Saturday, to coincide with the new exhibition Atua – Sacred Gods from Polynesia.
The exhibition, which opened in May, features more than 80 works, most of which were created in Polynesia before the early 19th century.
Gallery director Ron Radford said the exhibition explored the Polynesian concept of gods, figurative objects and associated beliefs that were developed over many years and spread throughout the region.
The pieces come from Easter Island, Mangareva, Tuamotu, Tahiti, Nuku Hiva, Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Tonga, Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand.
The celebrations also included Tongan performers who sung harmonies and demonstrated a traditional dance ritual that described the process for mixing the welcoming drink kava.
After Canberra, the show will travel to St Louis in the US.
Source
Related Posts:
News category: Asia Pacific.
