Paul Gauguin Cultural Center, Art museum in Atuona, Hiva-Oa, French Polynesia.
The Paul Gauguin Cultural Center includes multiple exhibition spaces displaying reproductions of paintings and personal items from the artist's final years.
The center opened in 2003 to commemorate the centenary of Paul Gauguin's death and features a reconstruction of his original residence, Maison du Jouir.
The museum presents the intersection of European art with Polynesian traditions through exhibits that showcase Gauguin's interpretation of local life.
Visitors can reach the cultural center via scheduled flights to Hiva-Oa airport, followed by a short drive to Atuona village.
The museum grounds incorporate the original location of Maison du Jouir, where wooden panels with Gauguin's carved messages remain preserved.
Location: Hiva-Oa
Inception: 2003
Website: https://web.archive.org/web/20050226083223/http://chez.mana.pf/~hoata/communique.htm
GPS coordinates: -9.80376,-139.04079
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:46
The Marquesas Islands are characterized by volcanic formations that shape landscapes marked by rocky peaks, ancient calderas, and basalt cliffs. Deep bays like those of Taiohae or the Virgins cut through the coasts, while black sand beaches reflect the archipelago's geological origins. The island interior reveals valleys, waterfalls, and reliefs reaching up to 1200 meters in altitude. Marquesian cultural heritage is evident through preserved archaeological sites in the Taipivai valley, where ceremonial platforms and petroglyphs carved into rock still exist. The Puamau tiki statues, carved from volcanic stone, are among the largest Polynesian sculptures. Museums in Atuona and Ua Huka hold collections that document traditional life, while the Gauguin Cultural Center and the Jacques Brel Space trace the careers of these two artists who spent their final days in the archipelago. The Taiohae Cathedral blends European architecture with local sculpted motifs, illustrating the cultural exchanges that have shaped the islands' history.
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