Tupaia, Captain Cook and the Voyage of the Endeavour: A Material History

This book explores the cross-cultural exchange between local islanders and the crew of James Cook's Endeavour during his first voyage of discovery (1768-1771) through the lens of material collections, including Tupaia's drawings, maps, cloth, and clothes. It highlights the agency of Tupaia as a historical figure and contemporary muse, challenging colonial museum collections and celebrations of Cook's voyages.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 27 July 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Centred on the priest and navigator Tupaia and Pacific worldviews, this captivatingly illustrated volume weaves a fresh tapestry of cultural histories in the Pacific, bridging the gap between local islanders and the crew of James Cook's inaugural 'voyage of discovery' (1768-1771). Contributors delve into the material collections brought back from the voyage, with a special focus on Tupaia's drawings, maps, clothing, and attendant narratives that shaped Britain's engagement with Pacific peoples. By bringing together indigenous and Pacific-based artists, scholars, historians, theorists, and tailors, this book fosters a cross-cultural dialogue around the concepts of acquired and curated artefacts that traversed oceans and intertwined cultures. Each chapter highlights a specific material, object, or process, shedding new light on the voyage, the societies it brought together, and the histories it transformed. Authors also explore animal iconography, instruments, ethnomusicology, performances, and rituals, further enriching our understanding of this remarkable expedition. This work challenges colonial museum collections and celebrations of Cook's voyages, employing both ancient and contemporary materials to forge connections between past and present, while steadfastly reinforcing Tupaia's agency as both a historical figure and a contemporary muse. Tracing overlapping folds of symbolism, this book paints a vivid picture of the diverse materials and people at the heart of cultural exchange.

Dimension: 246 x 189 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350157491