A Dramatic Reading of Noa Noa, the Script that Was Almost a Film

In the late 1800s, French artist Paul Gauguin epitomized the dramatic persona of a struggling artist. Upon his return from his first voyage to Tahiti, Gauguin not only came back with a taste for savage and mythical visions on canvass, but an intent to construct the myth of his own artistic facade. Gauguin’s Paradise Remembered is comprised of 32 works and ten revolutionary woodcuts, intended for his book, Noa Noa. Though the book failed to become published, the illustrations have remained as highly influential works to the creative community.

To introduce the exhibition, the Princeton University Art museum hosted a dramatic reading of a script that was almost a film on Thursday about Gauguin’s experiences, titled “Noa Noa,” and written by James Agee. Armed simply with stands and few props, the cast brought alive a powerful story in a matter of just two weeks. Check out the event in the video below:

--Lisa Han '13