ERAMET and its subsidiary Société Le Nickel – SLN are the patrons of the “KANAK, l’Art est une Parole” exhibition which will take place in the musée du quai Branly in Paris (France) from October 15th, 2013 to January 26th, 2014. This is a unique opportunity to get immersed in the ancestral culture of New Caledonia.

With a presence in more than 20 countries on the 5 continents, the ERAMET Groupe is committed to the understanding and respect of local cultures. Firmly established on the Caledonian territory where SLN has mined and beneficiated nickel for over 130 years, the Groupe and its subsidiary wanted to be involved in the organization of this exhibition in order to improve the understanding of the kanak culture. This endorsement also demonstrates their commitment to the development of New Caledonia.

“KANAK, l’Art est une Parole” is the largest exhibition about kanak art and culture in the last twenty years. It will bring together more than 300 exceptional works and documents from public collections in Europe and New Caledonia. It will host many unique and spectacular pieces from among the classics of kanak art: carved doorframes for large huts, ceremonial jade axes, carved wooden rooftop, sculptures, statuettes and a wide variety of ornaments.

Entitled “the five faces”, the main path through the exhibition will enable to discover the kanak artistic heritage thanks to its own people’s words. The other path entitled “the reflections” will explain the changing western vision of the kanak society.

This exhibition will then be hosted by the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Nouméa, New Caledonia, in 2014. ERAMET and SLN will also act as the main patrons.