Final weekend to enjoy Fiji exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts

The Fiji High Commissioner to the UK, Jitoko Tikolevu shows the Queen some of the exhibits during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific closes on Sunday, after having attracted what has been described as 'many thousands of visitors' since it first opened in October.

The exhibition - thought to be the world's largest show about Fiji - was also cast into the spotlight last month with a visit from the Queen who enjoyed a tour of the displays which include a ceremonial whale tooth, or tabua, which she was presented with during her first visit to Fiji in 1953.

The president of Fiji, Jioji Konousi Konrote, also made a special trip to open the exhibition at an event which was attended by celebrated naturalist Sir David Attenborough and Lord Sainsbury.

Ghislaine Wood, deputy director of the Sainsbury Centre, which is on the University of East Anglia campus, said: 'We have been thrilled by the huge response to this exhibition further endorsed by the visit of the Queen on January 27. The curatorial team worked very hard to produce this beautiful show which will be remembered for many years to come.'

The Queen studies the ceremonial whale tooth which was presented to her on her first visit to Fiji in 1953, during her visit to the Fiji Exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The show - curated by Steven Hooper, Karen Jacobs and Katrina Igglesden - displays an array of beautifully crafted Fijian art, and takes its visitors through more than 200 years of the country's history from the late 18th century to the present day. Among the more than 280 items featured is a specially-commissioned traditional Fijian sailing canoe - or drua - which featured in the Queen's 90th birthday celebration pageant at Windsor Castle. Other items include intricately-carved clubs reflecting Fiji's warrior heritage, traditional barkcloth textiles made from paper mulberry trees and an array of sculptures, bowls and paintings. The exhibition is the culmination of a three-year Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded project involving the University of East Anglia-based Sainsbury Research Unit and features exhibits gathered from collections across the UK as well as Fiji's national museum.

Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific runs until Sunday. It is open 10am-6pm today, tomorrow and Friday, and 10am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, including admission prices, visit www.scva.ac.uk

The President of Fiji, Jioji Konousi Konrote, visiting the Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre of Visual Arts. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2016)

Sir David Attenborough visiting the Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific exhibition at the Sainsbury Centre of Visual Arts. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2016)

Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific is at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich. Whale ivory necklace (Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, U. of Cambridge) (Image: (Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology, U. of Cambridge))

Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific is at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich. The specially-commissioned drua (sailing canoe) in Suva Harbour, 2015. Photo: Steven Hooper. (Image: (Photo: Steven Hooper))

Fiji: Art and Life in the Pacific is at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich. Fijian fashion designers use barkcloth (masi) to create ceremonial dress early C21st. (Sainsbury Research Unit, University of East Anglia) (Image: (Sainsbury Research Unit, University of East Anglia))