Shamanic Visions, the exhibition at the Quai Branly

The current exhibition at Quai Branly invites visitors to immerse themselves in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, exploring images and iconographic creations stemming from the use of ayahuasca.

French literature boasts numerous examples of distinguished poets who delved into substances for artistic purposes. The "cursed poets," such as Charles Baudelaire, articulated the boundless expansion induced by opium, elongating the limitless, deepening time, excavating voluptuousness, and saturating the soul beyond its capacity.

On the other side of the globe, specifically in the Peruvian Amazon, the Shipibo-Konibo community utilizes ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic brew, for artistic and spiritual purposes. Over centuries, this beverage has assumed a central role in culture and social life, weaving intimate connections between shamanism and artistic creation.

Shipibo-Konibo artists carve out their visual identity through this practice, shaping unique geometric patterns and a distinctive color palette.

The first part of the exhibition highlights these creations manifested in clothing, objects, jewelry, and much more. Visitors will have the opportunity to admire both ancient and contemporary works by Shipibo-Konibo artists.

The second part sheds light on the techniques, recurrent symbols, and diverse artistic processes employed by indigenous artists in the Amazon. This typology of creation is captivating the Western world, particularly thanks to the Beat Generation that popularized ayahuasca around fifty years ago. Western artists are now drawing inspiration from these captivating creations, contributing to a genuine globalization of art.

In the third part of the exhibition, visitors can discover the various creations and reinterpretations of Shipibo-Konibo art in the West, incorporating films, audiovisual productions, and a modern dimension into these ancestral artistic creations.

Throughout the exhibition, visitors will appreciate the diversity of artworks created "under the influence", including the geometric iconography of Shipipo-Konibos, literary works by Allen Ginsberg, audiovisual creations by Jan Kounen, and much more.

The exhibition's objective is to explore the connections between the exhibited artistic creations and study their relationship with the visionary and hallucinatory images induced by ayahuasca.

"Shamanic Visions" offers an authentic sensory experience in visionary images, artistic creation, and spiritual quest.

An opportunity not to be missed! Reserve your spot now! The team at Hotel Fabric wishes you an enriching exploration! Feel free to share your visit with us!

Until May 26, 2024. Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm, with a late-night opening on Thursdays until 10:00 pm.

Photo ©Stéfano Girardelli - Unsplash