83

‪Through the study of anthropomorphic sculptures, representations of deities or deified ancestors ‪‪tiki‪‪ and ‪‪ti’i‪‪, a major component of the material culture heritage of French Polynesia, this paper offers an overview of curatorial practices developed in the local cultural landscape. These reveal differences in the consideration of figures from various archipelagos, mainly exemplified by an over representation of the Marquesan ‪‪tiki‪‪. The history of the collections and associated curatorial practices within the Musée de Tahiti et des Îles – ‪‪Te Fare Manaha‪‪ and its predecessor the Musée de Papeete will therefore be discussed. The analysis then expands to curatorial contexts outside the museum-scape, particularly linked with a popular and urban visual culture, which reflects the strong contemporary local presence of these reappropriated and translocated figures, often beyond their originating archipelago. Contemporary productions, reproductions or motifs embody value transformations, reflecting the cultural complexity and dynamism of this region.‪