A glimpse of paradise

Sandy beaches, coconut trees and island beauties – this has long been our most prevailing image of the South Pacific. The Polynesian Islands of Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti and New Zealand have retained their appeal to this day, enticing us with the promise of paradise. But whose paradise is it? And what can historical photographs reveal about the islands of the South Pacific, which Europeans have always found such an exotic mystery?

Blick ins Paradies (A glimpse of paradise) explores these questions with photographs from the 19th and 20th century. Taken from the museum's historical collection, the images contain not only the works of professional photographers, but also numerous amateur photographs, offering a unique insight into colonial everyday life.

For further information visit Museum für Völkerkunde