An afternoon of talks and conversation with key contributors to the National Gallery’s catalogue publication for Gauguin’s World: Tona Iho, Tona Ao.

Led by the exhibition’s curator, Henri Loyrette, the symposium presents a range of perspectives on Gauguin’s work from leading experts in nineteenth century painting, Polynesian culture, Tahitian language and French literature.

Attend the symposium onsite at the National Gallery to preview the exhibition before it opens to the public. Exhibition entry is included in the onsite ticket price with options for entry between 10.30am and 1.30pm. Afternoon tea included.

## Symposium Schedule:

10.30am-1.30pm: Exhibition viewing (National Gallery)

1.30-2.30pm: Symposium session 1 (James Fairfax Theatre & online)

2.30-3.15pm: Afternoon tea (Gandel Hall)

3.15-4.15pm: Symposium session 2-Panel Q&A (James Fairfax Theatre & online)

Online bookings close at 12pm on the day of the event. Ticket holders will receive a link via email to access the livestream by 2pm on the day of the event. Please contact the Gallery on +61 2 6240 6411 or [email protected] if you do not receive your viewing link.

Gauguin’s World: Tona Iho, Tona Ao is on at the National Gallery from 29 Jun-7 Oct 2024.

SaVAge K’lub is on at the National Gallery from 29 Jun-7 Oct 2024.

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# Speakers

## HENRI LOYRETTE

Henri Loyrette is the curator of Gauguin’s World: Tona Iho, Tona Ao and French nineteenth century art history scholar. As a former Director of the Musée du Louvre, Loyrette is recognised for having expanded the display of the museum’s collection, and the museum itself, to Louvre-Lens in Northern France and Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Loyrette’s areas of specialisation are nineteenth century painting and architecture. He is a major scholar and acknowledged expert on Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet and other European artists of the period. His groundbreaking exhibitions include Degas à l’Opéra at the Musée d’Orsay, Paris and National Gallery of Art, Washington, in 2019, The Origins of Impressionism 1994, Degas Retrospective 1988 and Chicago, Birth of a Metropolis 1987. Loyrette has written major books on Degas, Gustave Eiffel, Viollet-le-Duc and Marcel Proust.

Loyrette has held important positions in French cultural organisations and has been widely honoured. He is chair of both the Giacometti Foundation and Cité internationale des Arts.

## MIRIAMA BONO

Miriama Bono is an architect, artist and a former Director of the Musée de Tahiti et des Îles. Since her appointment in 2017, she was instrumental in commissioning the renovation of the museum, as well as securing several international loans that returned significant objects of Polynesian culture to the museum. She has also held several important positions in the field of culture and arts in French Polynesia.

## VAIANA GIRAUD

Dr Vaiana Giraud is deeply involved in Polynesian culture and its affiliated events, first as Head of the Communications Department and then as cultural events Production Manager at the Maison de la Culture in Papeete from 2003 to 2021. She is passionate about the literary approach to Polynesia in Gauguin’s work. She holds a PhD in French literature entitled Paul Gauguin: the role and place of writing in his work. Since 2018, she has also been a member of the scientific and technical committee working on the creation of the planned Espace Gauguin in Papeari (Tahiti).

## NICHOLAS THOMAS

Nicholas Thomas is an Australian Anthropologist, Director of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Cambridge, and Professor of Historical Anthropology at the University of Cambridge. He first visited the Pacific in 1984 to research his doctoral thesis on culture and change in the Marquesas Islands. He has written many acclaimed books about art, history and cross-cultural encounters, and collaborated in exhibition and book experiments with artists including John Pule and Mark Adams. His latest book, Gauguin and Polynesia, is published in April 2024.