Paris, 13 September 2017 - 10:00 am
ERAMET sponsors "LES FORETS NATALES".
Arts of Atlantic Equatorial Africa at the musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac
"FORETS NATALES". Arts of Atlantic Equatorial Africa Curator: Yves Le Fur, Heritage and Collections Department Director, the musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac
Atlantic Equatorial Africa has given African art some of its most extraordinary masterpieces. From the visual power of the Fang people to the naturalist elegance of the Punu, almost 325 works from this vast region have been brought together for the first time in the exhibition "FORETS NATALES". Arts of Atlantic Equatorial Africa at the musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac. This large set of masterpieces from the 17th to early 20th centuries is designed to show the matches, shifts and specificities of the forms and arts of Atlantic Equatorial Africa, giving a panorama of its main artistic styles in the manner of "classic" art history.
"FORETS NATALES"? A poetic formula with a nod to Guillaume Apollinaire, the exhibition's title refers to the equatorial forest that forms both a geographic framework and a unique natural environment where the works on show originated.
Covering the south of the Republic of Cameroon and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the Gabonese Republic and the west of the Republic of Congo, this cultural area is the cradle of a creative momentum inherited from the Bantu tradition, taking shape in a wide range of representations shown in two types of object: statues relating to the cult of ancestors and masks expressing the many aspects of the spiritual entities that play a social role.
The presentation of works draws on the musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac's exceptional collection, one of the world's richest in this area, and is enhanced by outstanding, often unique works from public and private collections in Europe and North America. This exhibition enabled the musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac to conduct various scientific analyses on a corpus of Atlantic Equatorial African works, shedding new light on production methods and composition.
ERAMET sponsors "FORETS NATALES". Arts of Atlantic Equatorial Africa at the musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac
In line with its values, the ERAMET Group is proud to renew its commitment to the musée du quai Branly Jacques Chirac as sponsor of the exhibition "FORETS NATALES". This support follows on from the Group's first collaboration with the museum in 2013 for the exhibition "Kanak, l'art est une parole", of which ERAMET, which has been active in New Caledonia since 1880 and is still the main economic player on the island today, was the principal sponsor.
ERAMET is a French mining and metallurgical group that develops its activities under a project of sustainable, profitable and harmonious growth. ERAMET mines and processes raw materials with the goal of protecting people's health and wellbeing and the balance of local ecosystems, in constant dialogue with its host regions' stakeholders. The Group employs 13,000 people in 20 countries on five continents and has front-rank positions in each of its activities (Nickel, Manganese, Alloys).
This global footprint makes ERAMET a natural ambassador for the cultural dialogue promoted by the museum. The Group and its teams help to promote indigenous arts and the cultural and artistic wealth of the counties where it operates. In all its locations, it strives to develop its activities sustainably, taking into account the economic, social and environmental aspects of growth
ERAMET implements a determined policy of respect for natural sites and biodiversity. With its subsidiary COMILOG, the Group invests in the protection and knowledge of the Gabonese forest. In 2011, it began a partnership with CNRS, the French national centre for scientific research, for the Mandrillus Project. This initiative studies a population of mandrills, a primate under threat of extinction from poaching and deforestation. In addition, to protect gorillas ERAMET is working with the Aspinall Foundation for a project to reintroduce the apes into Lékédi Park.
ABOUT ERAMET
ERAMET is one of the leading global producers of:
- alloying metals, particularly manganese and nickel, used to improve the properties of steel,
- as well as high-performance special steels and alloys used in industries such as aerospace, power generation and tooling.
ERAMET is also developing activities with high growth potential, such as mineral sands (titanium dioxide and zirconium), lithium and recycling.
The Group employs nearly 13,000 people in around 20 countries.
For more information: www.eramet.com
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ABOUT MUSEE DU QUAI BRANLY - JACQUES CHIRAC
Located on the banks of the River Seine, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac aims to promote the Arts and Civilizations of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, at the crossroads of multiple cultural, religious and historical influences.
As a space for scientific and artistic dialog bringing together the public, researchers, students and contemporary artists, the museum offers a year-round program of exhibits, performances, lectures, workshops and screenings.
The museum holds ten or so temporary exhibits per year which are characterized by the diversity of approaches and fields of exploration. Designed by French or foreign figures from various backgrounds, the exhibits present works from the museum's collections, as well as prestigious loans from international institutions or private collectors.
Every week the Claude Lévi-Strauss theatre provides companies and artists from around the world with a space for expression in the form of performances, concerts or music rooms. The museum guides visitors according to their centres of interest, knowledge of the museum, free time, family and social situation through guided tours, storytelling, courses, workshops and audio guides.
For more information: www.quaibranly.fr
ERAMET contact:
Marion Margot, Group Vice-President Communications
marion.margot@erametgroup.com
MUSEE DU QUAI BRANLY-JACQUES CHIRAC CONTACTS:
Lucie Cazassus, Deputy Communications Director, Media Relations Manager
lucie.cazassus@quaibranly.fr
Christophine Erignac, Sponsorship Manager
christophine.erignac@quaibranly.fr
