Artworks from the Todd Barlin Collection at The Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea New Caledonia in 1998

New Guinea Artworks from the Todd Barlin Collection in The Tjibaou Cultural Centre 1998

The superb Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea New Caledonia opened in 1998. Named after the Kanak political leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou (1936-1989), the Tjibaou Cultural Centre was constructed to celebrate the history and culture of the local Kanak people, and to recognise the cultural diversity that exists within the wider Pacific region.

Designed by world-renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, who was also responsible for the design of the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the centre’s design is a modern and monumental interpretation of the island’s traditional architecture.

I provided ten large artworks from the Mimika & Marind Anim People of West Papua showcasing indigenous art from the Pacific Island in this superb Cultural Centre

When I came for the opening of the National Museum of New Caledonia exhibition “Asmat Art: The Spirit of the Tree in 1998 “I was invited to give a talk on the Asmat Artworks that I field collected I was honoured by being taken out for dinner Madam Marie-Claude Tjibaou widow of the independence movement leader in New Caledonia, Jean-Marie Tjibaou as she was the head of the friends of the National Museum of New Caledonia. She was kind and gracious to me & I will never forget this experience.  More photos to come as I sort my archive