V&A Opens 'Rising Voices' Asia‑Pacific Art Show
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- V&A opens the three‑room “Rising Voices” exhibition, attempting to condense three decades of Asia‑Pacific art into a single show.
- Lila Warrimou presents bark‑cloth paintings that encode clan affiliations, tattoos, and wood‑grub marks, representing Papua New Guinea’s cultural symbolism.
- Aline Amaru contributes a Tahitian quilt that tells the story of her husband’s dynastic lineage, showcasing Indigenous textile art.
- Elisabet Kauage paints Melanesian figures in the bows of Captain Cook’s ship, directly confronting colonial history.
- V&A’s exhibition design employs dim grey lighting and a continuous mournful piano loop, which the reviewer describes as “miserably” presented.
Why it matters: The V&A gives Indigenous creators a high‑profile platform, while the criticized lighting and sound risk alienating visitors and diminishing the exhibition’s impact. The museum’s reputation for curatorial excellence may also be questioned.
