Plumes from Paradise: Journeys of an Extraordinary Bird from New Guinea at Musée du quai Branly — Jacques Chirac
Men’s dance headdress, mid-20th century, Markham River, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, Feathers, shells, seeds, plant fiber spartens, 71.1955.76.101
© musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac, photo Pauline Guyon
Plumes from Paradise
Journeys of an Extraordinary Bird from New Guinea
May 12, 2026 — November 8, 2026
From the forests of New Guinea to the paintings of the great masters of the Northern School, a fascinating journey in the footsteps of birds of paradise, flamboyant creatures that have captivated the world for five centuries.
This exhibition traces the circulation of feathers and representations of birds of paradise, enchanting birds native to the lush forests of New Guinea. Objects of desire, contemplation and inspiration, these spectacular creatures have travelled across eras and continents.
Bringing together nearly 190 works - jewellery, paintings, stuffed specimens, fashion items and accessories, objets d'art and illustrated works - the exhibition combines perspectives from natural history, art, ethnology, fashion and ecology. It sheds light on how these birds have been collected, represented, admired and transformed over time in Oceania, Asia and Europe.
Designed in collaboration with scientists, academics and artists from New Guinea, the exhibition offers contemporary local interpretations. It invites us to rethink our relationship with living things and knowledge, taking into account the pressing issues of this century, and to discover these dazzling feathers with a fresh perspective.
Curator
Magali Mélandri, Head of the Oceania – Insulinde Heritage Unit at the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac
Stéphanie Xatart, art historian, independent curator
