09 Oct 2020 03 Oct 2021

The Olmecs and the civilizations of the Gulf of Mexico

Spotlight on the Olmec civilisation and the little-known world of pre-Columbian cultures of the Gulf of Mexico. A fascinating journey into over three millennia of history, exchanges and artistic traditions.

About the exhibition

It was at the heart of the Gulf of Mexico on marshy land south of the current states of Veracruz and Tabasco that the Olmec culture once flourished (Olmec coming from the word Olmán, meaning ‘rubber country’). It was one of the largest and most mysterious Mesoamerican civilisations. It was a civilisation with profound artistic sensibility that remained unknown until the second half of the nineteenth century, but that played a leading role in the history of Mexico and its region. The development of Mesoamerican canons and thought (economic, social, political, intellectual and artistic principles) bear witness to this, lasting up to the Spanish conquest.

The exhibition presented at the musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac sheds light on the Olmec civilisation and its spread over time (1600 av. è.c. jusqu’à 100 ap. è.c) and space. In total, over three  hundred items, some of which are shown for the first time outside Mexico, reveal the huge diversity of the Pre-Colombian world with cultures of the Gulf, a pluricultural dynamic that unfolded through a multitude of artistic traditions, beliefs, rites and languages in a complex fabric of political and economic relations. 

This exhibition is organised in collaboration with The Secretaría de Cultura, México and
The Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH).

  • General Curator:

    • Cora Falero Ruiz, Scientific Advisor, Museo Nacional de Antropología, México, United Mexican States
    • Steve Bourget, Archaeologist and curator at the Americas Department, musée du quai Branly- Jacques Chirac
  • Place:   Mezzanine est
  • TimeSlots:  
    From Friday 09 October 2020 at Sunday 03 October 2021
  • Closed on monday
    Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday:  10:30 am-07:00 pm
    Thursday:  10:30 am-10:00 pm
  • Accessibility:
    • Handicap visuel
    • LSF
    • Handicap auditif bim (T)
  • Public:   All publics
  • Categorie : Exhibitions
  • Museum ticket entrance
    Full price:  14,00 €
    Reduce rate:  11,00 €

    Click here to see all rates
00:00 / 00:00
Les Olmèques et les cultures du golfe du Mexique | Exposition au musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac
Plein phare sur la civilisation olmèque et le monde méconnu des cultures précolombiennes du golfe du Mexique. Une plongée fascinante à travers plus de trois millénaires d’histoire, d’échanges et de traditions artistiques. #ExpoOlmèques du 9 octobre 2020 au 25 juillet 2021 Plus d'informations sur ➡️ https://bit.ly/Olmeques-MQB L’exposition est organisée en collaboration avec la Secretaría de Cultura du Mexique et l’Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH).
0:20 min

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