Mo‘olelo of the Ahupuaʻa tells the various stories of living, working, playing and learning within a sustainable landscape. These are themes within the epic Hawaiian myth Hiʻiakaikapoliopele, which Hawaiian artist Solomon Enos depicts in this series of paintings. The heroine Hiʻiaka is on a quest that takes her throughout the various landscapes and worlds of […]

At the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, England, you can see a beautiful Ahu’ula, a feather cloak from Hawaii. It is on display on the ground floor, in a case that has a curtain covering the glass, which when drawn back reveals the striking yellow, red and black design worked in tiny feathers. Draw back […]

The ahupua‘a, a land division extending from the mountains to the sea, has long been the cornerstone of sustainable land management for Kanaka Maoli (Hawaiian) communities. "Ma uka" (toward the mountains) and "Ma kai" (toward the sea) are not merely directional references; they signify a deep understanding of care and access to natural and cultural resources within these regions. Through […]

Discover the beautifully sculptural Hulu Nēnē dress by fashion icon Manaola Yap, a designer and cultural practitioner from Hawaiʻi, within the Pitt Rivers Museum galleries. Displayed in a case in near the centre of the museum court on the ground floor, this installation is part of the journey through the Hawaiian landscape offered through the museum's current […]

In this Archive Case display, artists Simon Grennan and Solomon Enos re-examine the work of nineteenth century author Robert Louis Stevenson through dynamic graphic storytelling. Stevenson travelled to several Pacific islands before settling in Sāmoa in 1890. Referencing this time in Sāmoa, as well as Hawai’i and Europe, related items are brought together from the […]

Unfinished is a poem written by Carol Ann Carl, a daughter of the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. With a background in Biochemistry and health, her community work revolves around Micronesian youth and women. Carol Ann was entrusted to be the keeper of traditional origin stories, which she shares through her writings. […]

Shadowlight Supported Studio. A powerful celebration of identity, creativity and community, this group exhibition showcases artwork and film by learning-disabled and neurodivergent artists. Join us for a new exhibition of work by the Shadowlight Artists, in collaboration with Film Oxford. The exhibition title humorously plays on the famous quote from the film Jaws, “you’re going to […]

Pat Suet-Bik Hui 許雪碧 (b. 1943) is a US-based Hong Kong artist. This exhibition showcases her work alongside others who engage with the tradition of the 'three perfections' 三絕, which brings together the three art forms of poetry, calligraphy, and painting. The exhibition includes works by Hui, her contemporaries, her teacher Lui Shou-Kwan and others […]

Discover the enduring legacy of one of the greatest writers of the past century. Tradecraft draws upon the vast archive of John le Carré, otherwise known as David Cornwell. Held at the Bodleian Libraries, this material – much of which is displayed for the first time – spans Cornwell’s entire life and career, from his time as a […]

Marking the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth, Dancing with Austen explores how important dance was to Austen’s gentry society and its crucial role in her creativity. Dancing moves the plot in all of Jane Austen’s novels. Whether the scene of a private ball or a ticketed assembly, the dance floor measures the course of novels in which […]

Explore the Enchanted Library with our new Winter Trail and see if you can spot the signs of winter in the stories. Our trail sheet includes a take home craft, so you can take your completed trail sheet home with you and make your own winter stars. Included with entry to the Galleries For families