In 1774, the first Polynesian to visit London travelled to England with
the crew of Captain Cook's second Pacific voyage and became an overnight
sensation. Seen as a living example of the 'Noble Savage', Omai as he
was known, was discussed by scientists and philosophers, celebrated in
all the best circles and written about in everything from poetry to pornography.
He proved a lightning rod for European anxieties regarding imperialism,
civilisation and the true nature of mankind. The artistic and literary
legacy of Omai's encounter with Europe provides a fascinating insight
into European culture in a moment of transition, when old certainties
were collapsing and new ones were yet to form. Cook & Omai: The Cult
of the South Seas has been developed by the National Library of Australia
in association with the Humanities Research Centre of the Australian National
University. The exhibition draws extensively on the Library's magnificent
Rex Nan Kivell Collection and includes significant loans from the Australian
Museum, the National Gallery of Australia, the National Portrait Gallery
and the State Library of New South Wales.
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