A LOCAL book published by the Fiji Museum won the International Tribal Art Book Prize for 2017 in Paris earlier this month.
Titled Fiji: Art & Life in the Pacific, the book was a United Kingdom-funded research project written by Professor Steven Hooper.
Prof Hooper said the award marked a milestone for the Fiji Museum and Fiji.
“I am so happy that the brilliant, skilled work of generations of Fijians is being recognised and celebrated in this way,” he said.
“I am grateful for the support and collaboration of Fiji Museum in lending such important artworks for the exhibition and for agreeing to publish this book, which is available at Fiji Museum for a much lower price than in Europe.
“I encourage everyone here in Paris to visit Fiji not just to buy cheap books, but to experience that wonderful country.”
Fiji Museum director Sipiriano Nemani said this was a proud moment for the museum.
“Professor Hooper was a good friend, adviser and supporter of the museum and this achievement fulfilled one of our long-term visions, which was to make the Fiji Museum a research hub of Fijian history not only in Fiji but the world as well,” he said.
“I take this opportunity to encourage international visitors, diaspora Fijians overseas, researchers, students and general public to come down to the Fiji Museum at Thurston Gardens in Suva to buy this book and learn more about Fiji Art and Fijian history which is available in both hard and soft covers.W
