MELANESIAN TRIPTIQUE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID BECKER
Melanesia is a rapidly changing world, and a region full of contrasts. In Melanesia we have palm trees, beautiful beaches, and traditional indigenous ceremonies, but melanesians also drive 100 ton trucks in the Nickel mine (which supply the ore from whish we made stainless steel for everything from space ships to kitchen knives), and dance a modern ballet, which has been transformed here in New Caledonia, to express the spirit of the pacific. This exhibition evokes thes three aspects of life here.
This exhibition, sponsored by the SLN Company, presents images of traditional Melanesian life in Vanuatu, as well as two groups of images from New Caledonia. The SLN mining Company's images illustrate Melanesia's participation in the world Economy, and the Karbal Noumea Ballet Expresses the presence in the pacific of today's global cultural influence, but we can see that their dance has a unique Pacific Style. The Vanuatu images present a completely different traditional way of life which still exists in few places.
TRADITIONAL VANUATU
The black and white photos in this exhibition do not date from the 19th Century. They depict a lifestyle which is still alive and well today. They were taken during the last15 years, on the Island of Tanna, in Vanuatu, and some weretaken only last years.
People on most of the other island of Vanuatu (and elsewhere on the island of Tanna) are gradually entering into the modern economy and lifestyle, but the people in this small traditional area of the island have chosen to continue he traditional way of life of their ancestors. Some have visited Australia, Europe and the United States, but have returned because they prefer their prosperous and easy life in Tanna. They grow and make almost everything they use or est, themselves, and are particullary rich because they don't need money to live. they have everything they need already.
“CLASSIC” DANCE IN NEW CALDONIA
KARBAL NOUMEA BALLET
Traditional dance is still performed in New Caledonia, of course. But the dance images shown on this exhibition are the Karmal noumea Ballet Company. Sthan Kabar-Loet, its coreographer and principle dancer is fourth-generation Caledonian. Although he was trained in classic ballet and was a star dancer with the Bejart Ballet in Europe, he has adapted modern balletto reflect a Pacific context, creating a unique style for New Caledonia.
NEW CALEDONIA IN THE MODERN INDUSTRIAL WORLD
New Caledonia is one of the world's major producers of Nickel, and so it is only natural many New Caledonians work in the Nickel industry, either in the minesor in the SLN refinery in Noumea. The story of Melanesia would not be complete if we didn't show this part of life here, too. THe Melanesians (and other New Caledonians) who work in the SLN are highly trained and very well paid and are a part of the modern world, even though they are on the other side of the planet from Europe. Melanesians in New Caledonia still do treditional dances, but they also drive 100 tonne capacity trucks and other huge machines, as well as mastering the fire of liquid Nickelat the SLN refinery.
