Gauguin revisited
by Venzago

In 1990, Over thirty years ago, I began exploring Polynesia, fascinated by the descendants of Paul Gauguin's models. My curiosity about their lives today, their heritage, and their awareness of their lineage led me on a journey to uncover their stories. In March and April 2024, with the help of Josette Garonne, I photographed several descendants in original locations. We researched family trees, searching through old records in Hiva Oa and Atuona.

My travels aren’t just about exploration—they're an obsession to document these people's faces and stories. Gauguin’s life, fraught with hardship and decay, has deeply impacted my view of his art. As I continue interviewing descendants and reviewing his letters, my passion for photography drives me. In the winter of 2024, I’ll follow Gauguin’s 1901 journey, retracing his steps to capture the essence of his world and the people who remain part of his legacy.

It is now fall 2026, and I have completed six trips. In the meantime, the story has expanded; it’s no longer just about the descendants of Paul Gauguin’s models—it’s about aesthetics. How do I see the women of Polynesia? Through the viewfinder of my camera with my Western perspective, or do I give them space to see themselves? I’ve begun to process the images, to reinterpret them, to transform them. No longer Gauguin’s perspective, but my own. An exciting journey. My final trip will take place this winter, mostly on Hiva Oa, where I’ve lost my heart to the landscape, the barrenness, and the incredibly wonderful people.

I’m looking forward to the opening on September 23, 2027, at Villa Bührle in Zollikon near Zurich. That still seems a long way off, but time is flying by and I’m already totally excited.