Oceania

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean in the world, and contains the largest number of islands—more than 10,000 large and small. These islands are collectively called Oceania. They are generally divided into three main groups: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia. Their total area covers one million square kilometers, mainly distributed between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Tropic of Cancer in the Tropical Zone. Thus, the climate of these islands is hot and humid. Due to the expansive distribution of Oceania’s peoples, they developed outstanding marine navigation skills and diverse world views and lifestyles. here are 10 main themes of this exhibition area: Islands of the Pacific Ocean; Origin and Spread of Oceania’s Peoples; Ethnic Groups and Societies; Indigenous Knowledge and Descriptions; Ocean; Land; Warfare and Society; Settlements, Dwellings and Culture; Body and Art and Diversity and Change. On display are 249 cultural objects including carved statues, eating utensils, canoes, weapons, ornaments and masks, etc., with emphasis on the material culture of Papua New Guinea. The majority of objects were collected by the late Max Liu and his son Ning-sheng Liu and donated to the museum. Through images and multimedia, this exhibition area also attempts to present how the peoples of Oceania are facing globalization, and their efforts to protect and position their culture and to preserve their autonomy. Thus, on one side this exhibition area provides rich anthropological information regarding the peoples of Oceania and on the other provides diverse, comparative and reflective views on current issues.