PRESS PACK. Press contact: Morgane Gourlaouen - Le Voyage à Nantes

Transcription

1 PRESS PACK Press contact: Morgane Gourlaouen - Le Voyage à Nantes morgane.gourlaouen@lvan.fr

2 PRESSE RELEASE TROMELIN L ÎLE DES ESCLAVES OUBLIÉS 17 OCTOBER 2015 > 30 APRIL 2016 After leaving Bayonne on November 17th 1760, the Utile, a ship belonging to the French East India Company washed up on the Île de Sable (today: Tromelin Island a 1 km2 desert isle off the coast of Madagascar) on July 31st The ship was transporting 160 Malagasy slaves that were smuggled out of the country and intended to be sold to Île de France (now Mauritius). The crew returned to Madagascar on a raft, leaving 80 slaves on the island, with the promise to return and rescue them. Only fifteen years later, on November 29th 1776, did the ensign and future knight, Tromelin, return at the helm of the corvette La Dauphine. He rescued the eight surviving slaves: seven women and one eight-month child. Maritime history, slave trade and slavery in Indian Ocean are discussed throughout the shipwreck and the survivors life of the Utile. The exhibition was developed in collaboration with the GRAN (Groupe de recherche en archéologie navale) and the INRAP (Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives) for the excavations they performed on the island and underwater. Research on this shipwreck and the life of those who were ultimately rescued has been the focus of a multidisciplinary study with the aim of shedding light on the circumstances behind the tragic event. It also documents the living conditions of those who survived the best they could. Two versions of this exhibition, presenting the historical, archaeological and environmental research carried out on Tromelin, have been created. The use of a shared archaeological corpus and the choice of a communal yet adaptable scenography allows for the simultaneous discovery of the exhibition, both in mainland France and the Indian Ocean. Scientific curators: Max Guérout, Groupe de recherche en archéologie navale Thomas Romon, Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives Curator: Pierre Chotard - musée d histoire de Nantes This exhibition is recognized as being of national importance by the Ministry of Culture and Communication/Direction générale des patrimoines/service des musées de France. Consequently, it has received financial support from the French government. This exhibition, a co-production with INRAP, has received financial support from the Ministry of Overseas Affairs 2

3 ORIGIN OF THE EXHIBITION The discovery of a great number of archive documents have allowed researchers to clarify the historical context, arming, itinerary, and circumstances behind the sinking of the Utile slave-trading ship. However, the little information known about the years spent on Tromelin Island by the Malagasy survivors had diminished to nearly nothing. Archaeological research performed underwater and on-land therefore allowed scientists to study survival conditions and recontextualize the tragedy within the history of the slave trade in the Indian Ocean. Four archaeological expeditions were jointly launched by the Gran (Groupe de recherche en archéologie navale) and Inrap (Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives) between 2006 and The first revealed a part of the habitat used by slaves as well as everyday objects, thus providing the first steps to creating a clearer idea of their living conditions. Three edifices (bâtiments) were discovered during a 2008 expedition, highlighting a dwelling area with many utensils and the remains of eaten fauna (essentially terns and turtles). The remains of two human bodies were also exhumed. The 2010 and 2013 missions confirmed the presence of a sort of hamlet made up of a dozen buildings, all grouped around a central courtyard. This exhibition is the result of a research programme partnership Gran/Jean-François Rebeyrotte 3

4 EXHIBITION CURATORS Max Guérout After a career as a naval officer, Max Guérout began scientific work in the early 1980s, leading him to lead several underwater excavations in different regions throughout the world. He organized four of these archaeological expeditions in 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2013 on Tromelin Island (Indian Ocean) with the aim of clarifying and understanding the survival conditions of the shipwrecked slaves. In 1982, he contributed to the creation of the Gran, whose purpose is to promote underwater archaeology, maritime history, and maritime cultural heritage. Thomas Romon As an archaeologist in Guadeloupe since 1996, Thomas Romon joined the Institut national des recherches archéologiques préventives (Inrap) in 2004 as operations manager. As a specialist in funereal archaeology, he was assigned to the Anthropology Laboratory of Past and Present Populations at the Université de Bordeaux I (UMR 5199 PACEA). He manages operations of rescue archaeology (diagnostics and digs) in the West Indies and Réunion Island. He has participated in 4 expeditions to Tromelin Island, where he supervises on-land excavations with Max Guérout. All rights reserved All rights reserved 4

5 ITINERARY OF THE EXHIBITION Because only part of this tragedy is documented, the dialogue between the historical and archaeological sources offers the most comprehensive view possible. The museographic stance taken by the curators is a reflection of this dialogue and one that invites the visitor to progressively discover everything known about the incident to this day via two resolutely distinct sections. The exhibition opens with a presentation of Tromelin Island, the theatre of this tragic episode. Focussing on the French West India Company and the Seven Years War, it also offers an idea of the historical context. The visitor can then follow the itinerary of the Utile (from its construction to its arrival in Foulepointe) and compare it to the slaves journey in Madagascar, thus reconfiguring the circuit of the crew and the ship s cargo. The shipwreck, which occurred on July 31st 1761 in the middle of the night, creates a breaking point in the story, and therefore in the exhibition. The visitor is thrown into a universe that is completely different from the first through descriptions of the island and the archaeological excavations that took place there. In the unique atmosphere of Tromelin, visitors will discover the issues scientists had to face and the answers they came up with. All rights reserved 5

6 SCENOGRAPHY One of the desires of the team behind the exhibition was to plunge the visitor into two different universes. After presenting visitors with historical information, they are transported to this desert island, amidst its excavation sites, surrounded by the sea and the wind The scenographic stance of the exhibition was to find a material that could easily be transported from museum to museum for several years. Pascal Payeur s agency imagined display cases and equipment that were multi-purpose and modular, with their own built-in solutions to any transportation problems, and without sacrificing aesthetics. 6

7 DISCOVER THE EXHIBITION Exhibition Journal Presented as a large sea chart of the Indian Ocean, you are invited to fold up the journal and take it along with you. On the back, the major themes of the exhibition are laid out for you. Available for free at the reception desk of the exhibition. Produced by Inrap. Inrap 7

8 PRACTICAL INFORMATIONS OPENING TIMES DURING THE EXHIBITION Courtyard, rampart walk and moat gardens, entrance free 7 days a week: 10 am to 7 pm Musem and exhibition 10 am to 6 pm, except Mondays Closed on 25 December and 1 January Last sales from the ticket office half an hour before the closing time ADMISSION The admission is free on the first Sunday of every month for everyone, and everyday for young under 18. PASS CHÂTEAU: 10 Illimited admission to the museum and the temporary exhibitions, valid one year from date to date. ONE-DAY-TICKET: admission to the museum and the temporary exhibition Full fare: 8 Reduced fare: 5 (age one hour before closing...) Free: under age 18 registered unemployed welfare recipients disabled visitors and their accompanying person... CONTACTS Individuals / Disabled visitors Infoline from France: From abroad: Château des ducs de Bretagne - musée d histoire de Nantes 4, place Marc Elder Nantes contact@chateaunantes.fr - The Château des ducs de Bretagne, property of Nantes métropole is managed by the SPL Le Voyage à Nantes, as part of a public service delegation. 8

9 TOUR DATES Coproduced by the Nantes Museum of History and Inrap, Tromelin, l île des esclaves oubliés will be shown to the public for the first time at the Château des ducs de Bretagne. Two versions of this exhibition, presenting the historical, archaeological and environmental research carried out on Tromelin, have been created. The use of a shared archaeological corpus and the choice of a communal yet adaptable scenography allows for the simultaneous discovery of the exhibition, both in mainland France and the Indian Ocean. Mainland France: Lorient: Musée de la compagnie des indes, Summer 2016 Bordeaux: Musée d Aquitaine, November 2016 Bayonne: Musée Basque, Summer 2017 Marseille: Musée d Histoire (to be announced) Tatihou Island: Musée Départemental de la Manche (to be announced) In the Indian Ocean: In the Indian Ocean, the Musée Stella Matutina (Réunion Island) will be the first stop to welcome the exhibition organized by les Taaf (Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands) with the aid and assistance of the Direction of Cultural Affairs Indian Ocean (DACOI) and the Réunion Island Region. A presentation is also planned to take place in Mauritius and Madagascar. In the Antilles: Given its universal theme of slavery, the exhibition will tour the Antilles with scrolling signs in key heritage spaces, with the local coordination of the Musée d Archéologie de Fort de France, with the support of Inrap. 9

10 PRESS VISUALS Reference Image Caption Copyright 1 Illustration S. Savoia Collection Aire Libre. Dupuis Crédit photo J.F Rebeyrotte 2 Aerial view of Tromelin Island TAAF / Benoit Gysembergh 3 Table from comic strip Les esclaves oubliés de Tromelin S. Savoia Collection Aire Libre. Dupuis 4 Exhibition Tromelin, l île des esclaves oubliés, Château des ducs de Nantes, Musée d histoire de Nantes. Le Dromadaire, Musée de la Compagnie des Indes de Lorient. 5 Exhibition Tromelin, l île des esclaves oubliés, Château des ducs de Nantes, Musée d histoire de Nantes. Historical part. 10

11 6 Exhibition Tromelin, l île des esclaves oubliés, Château des ducs de Nantes, Musée d histoire de Nantes. Historical part. 7 Exhibition Tromelin, l île des esclaves oubliés, Château des ducs de Nantes, Musée d histoire de Nantes. Historical part. 8 Exhibition Tromelin, l île des esclaves oubliés, Château des ducs de Nantes, Musée d histoire de Nantes. Model of survivors habitats, Bruno Torlay. 9 Exhibition Tromelin, l île des esclaves oubliés, Château des ducs de Nantes, Musée d histoire de Nantes. Archaeological part. 10 Exhibition Tromelin, l île des esclaves oubliés, Château des ducs de Nantes, Musée d histoire de Nantes. Green turtle (Museum d histoire naturelle de Nantes) et sterne fuligineuse (Museum national d histoire naturelle de Paris). 11 Exhibition Tromelin, l île des esclaves oubliés, Château des ducs de Nantes, Musée d histoire de Nantes. Dishes found on tromelin Island. DACOI 11

12 12 Exhibition Tromelin, l île des esclaves oubliés, Château des ducs de Nantes, Musée d histoire de Nantes. Model of Tromelin Island, Bruno Torlay. 13 Exhibition Tromelin, l île des esclaves oubliés, Château des ducs de Nantes, Musée d histoire de Nantes. Archaeological part. 14 Exhibition De l esquisse à l album : Tromelin en bande dessinée, Château des ducs de Nantes, Musée d histoire de Nantes. Les esclaves oubliés de Tromelin de Sylvain Savoia, chez Dupuis, collection Aire Libre. 12

13 APPENDIX PARTNERS OF THE EXHIBITION IN COPRODUCTION WITH L Institut national de recherches archéologiques préventives With more than 2,000 collaborators and researchers, Inrap is the largest archaeological research institute in France and one of the most important in Europe. Each year, this national research institute realizes approximately 1,800 archaeological diagnostic operations and 250 excavations in partnership with private and public developers in metropolitan France and its overseas territories. Created by the 2001 law on preventative archaeology, Inrap is the only public operator qualified to intervene throughout France and for all periods, from Prehistory to the present. Benefitting from thirty years of experience, it intervenes in all types of development projects: urban, rural, underwater, road and railway lines. Following the excavations, Inrap teams study their results and ensure their diffusion to the scientific community: more than 300 of its researchers collaborate with the CNRS and Universities. The institute makes an essential contribution to the development of archaeological knowledge in collaboration with these organisms. With its large number of researchers, the broad range of its interventions and the massive quantity of data it collects, it plays a major role in many domains, notably those in which our knowledge has been profoundly renewed by preventative archaeology: the archaeology of human settlements and population movements, global approaches to local regions, the archaeology of human relationships to their environment, the study of economic fluctuations, etc. The missions of Inrap also include the transmission of archaeological knowledge to the public. For this purpose, it organizes numerous outreach programs, most often in collaboration with the site developers: site visits, exhibits, publications, audiovisual productions, colloquia, etc. In 2014, nearly 730,000 people in 357 districts benefited from these activities. Its catalogue of editorial resources and audiovisual and multimedia productions includes more than 600 titles. Its internet site is consulted by nearly 100,000 visitors each month. Press contact: Mahaut Tyrrell mahaut.tyrrell@inrap.fr 13

14 APPENDIX PARTNERS OF THE EXHIBITION IN ASSOCIATION WITH Le groupe de recherche en archéologie navale Les Terres australes et antarctiques françaises La Direction des affaires culturelles océan Indien Le ministère des Outre-Mer Le service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine La collection Aire Libre des éditions Dupuis 14

15 LE CHÂTEAU DES DUCS DE BRETAGNE A castle in the city Built in the 15th century by François II, the last Duke of Brittany, and then by his daughter Anne de Bretagne, duchess and two-time queen of France, the Château des ducs de Bretagne is a fortified castle, and home to a residential palace made of tuffeau stone with sophisticated façades. It became a royal castle, and the destination of many governors from the 16th century, before turning into a prison, barracks, and arsenal. It was entirely restored and now is home to the Nantes Museum of History. MUSÉE D HISTOIRE DE NANTES A museum dedicated to the city s history With its contemporary scenography, the museum is spread out over 32 rooms inside the ducal palace. The 850 objects of its collection and many multimedia stations invite visitors to plunge into Nantes exceptional history as the former capital of the Dukes of Brittany, the city where the Edict of Nantes was written under Henri IV, a large Atlantic port as of the 17th century, a thriving industrial city in the 19th and 20th centuries, and an economic and cultural hub today. TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS The Nantes Museum of History has based its programme of temporary exhibitions on three keywords that shine a light on different themes developed within the museum s permanent collection. - Exhibitions dealing with civilization: the history of Nantes is built on its relationship to elsewheres. The goal of these exhibitions is to discover other territories, grasp other civilizations, discover other cultures, other histories, and understand the meaning behind our representations. - The Citoyennes et Regards exhibitions allow us to examine a subject linked to the museum or the history of Nantes. - The Rencontres Histoire exhibitions invite the public to regularly revisit a specific theme in different formats (presentation of an object, series of conferences ). The Château des ducs de Bretagne, property of Nantes Métropole, is managed by the SPL Le Voyage à Nantes, as part of a public service delegation. 15

16 THE MEMORIAL TO THE ABOLITION OF SLAVERY Designed by artist Krzysztof Wodiczko and architect Julian Bonder, the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery is one of the most important monuments in the world dedicated to the slave trade, slavery and its abolition. Beyond the memory of the victims of the Atlantic slave trade, it pays tribute to the memory of all those who struggled and who are still fighting against all forms of slavery throughout the world. Located on and under Quai de le Fosse, the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery does not focus on an explanation or an exhibition of history, but on the memory and passing on a universal message. AN URBAN WALKING TOUR A urban walking tour made up of 11 information plaques, symbolically links the Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery to the Nantes Museum of History. Built close to the sites and monuments connected to Nantes past as a slave-trading hub, these plaques make it possible to decipher the tracks of what was a major activity in Nantes. PRACTICAL INFO The Memorial is a public area which is open all year round. Entry is free. It is closed only at night and when the Loire River is in flood. Non-guided visit: En visite libre, no reservation required, open every day: - 9am to 6pm from 16 September to 14 May, - 9am to 8pm from 15 May to 15 September. Last access 30 minutes before closing. Practical info: Jean-Dominique Billaud / LVAN 16