What is the role and relevancy of museums in the 21st century? Can they be living, expansive archives of Indigenous knowledge? Or should we acknowledge them as outdated relics of colonial pasts?
The complete overhaul and construction of new galleries for the Arts of Oceania at The Metropolitan Museum in New York gave Curator Dr Maia Nuku a unique opportunity to reframe the galleries conceptually; to emphasize connectivity in the context of global and local histories; and elevate the equally critical arts of storytelling, oratory, and performance alongside Oceania’s dynamic visual arts.
Join us at Melbourne Museum as Dr Nuku shares insights into the 10-year project that has culminated in a suite of galleries that offer international visitors perspectives on art that reach deep into Oceania’s past while also acknowledging ongoing manifestations of its agency in the present.
Dr Nuku will then be joined by Jade Hadfield, Curator of First Nations Pasifika Collections at Museums Victoria, to discuss what the role and relevancy museums hold in the 21st century, and whether museums can be living, expansive archives of Indigenous knowledge.
Ticket includes entry to visit the multisensory Our Wonderous Planet gallery from 8:15pm to 9pm.
Tickets
Adult $30
Adult $24
Senior $26
Child 16 Years & Under $15
Adult $20
Concession $26
Date & Time
Tuesday 24 November
6:30pm Doors Open
7pm Talk with Dr Maia Nuku
8:15 to 9pm Our Wondrous Planet open for viewing
Key information
Located in the Museum Theatre
SPEAKERS
Born in London of English and Māori (Ngai Tai) descent, Dr. Maia Nuku has completed two post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Cambridge (2008-2014) as part of an international research team exploring Oceanic art collections in European museums in France, Spain, the Netherlands and Russia. Researching the collections alongside Pacific artists and practitioners, the work was collaborative and sought to create access to these collections both in the physical and digital domains. During her time at the Met, Maia has evolved a curatorial approach that centers indigenous Pacific perspectives, grounding the presentation of visual arts in the unique conceptual and cosmological connections that make art from Oceania so compelling. In 2023, her exhibition The Shape of Time: Art and Ancestors of Oceania travelled to Museum of Art in Pudong, Shanghai (June 1 - Aug 20, 2023) and National Museum of Qatar (Oct 23, 2023 - Jan 15, 2024). For the past eight years, Maia has overseen a major reinstallation of the Oceania galleries at the Metropolitan Museum which showcases the creativity of indigenous Pacific artists from the 18th century to the present through the compelling lenses of global history, indigenous storytelling, and Pacific oratory and performance.
Currently residing in Narrm (Melbourne), Jade (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga, Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara) has over 20 years of experience at prominent cultural institutions, including Te Papa, ICCROM, The Koorie Heritage Trust, State Library Victoria , and her current position at Museums Victoria. Deeply rooted in te ao Māori, Jade draws on her upbringing to center Indigenous ontologies and epistemologies. Drawing on her cultural sector expertise, she actively challenges dominant narratives and strives to enhance diverse representation, concurrently fostering capacity-building initiatives for Māori and Pasifika communities. Jade uses her role in the cultural sector to change state institutions, reconnect cultural items and communities, and center community knowledge. At the heart of Jade's approach lies a strong commitment to community collaboration. She crafts impactful exhibitions, deeply rooted in Indigenous knowledge and achieve transformative outcomes.
ACCESSIBILITY
Please view our accessibility page for general information. A sensory map of Melbourne Museum can be found on our Visual Stories page where step-by-step visual and written access guides are available. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.
