WAX exhibition at the Musée de l’Homme in Paris
For more than a decade, the popularity of this instantly recognizable textile has been unprecedented in Western societies: clothing, accessories, objects…
Wax is increasingly present in homes and wardrobes. Yet its unique history remains little-known to the public. Combining the views of anthropologists, art historians, couturiers, designers and contemporary artists, the exhibition shows wax from every angle and reveals a wide variety of fabrics, illustrating the richness of the designs, patterns and colors that characterize it, as well as allowing visitors to appreciate the different fabric qualities (fancy, imitation, super-wax, glitter glam…).
The exhibition is divided into two sections : one devoted to the wax’s 120-year history in Asia, Europe and Africa; the other to its current use in fashion, design and contemporary art.
The history of wax
Wax is a cotton fabric printed on two sides, using a wax technique to delimit the printing areas of the motifs.
Its history began in the 19th century at the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa, in a colonial context based on commercial interests and cultural choices. The first copies of wax were made by Dutch entrepreneurs seeking to reproduce traditional Indonesian batiks for the Indonesian market. However, it was in West Africa, that these imitations met with success, before spreading throughout the continent. This enthusiasm led to the industrialization of production and the emergence of competing companies, notably from Asia. The exhibition looks back at the major stages and key figures in this saga, which turned wax into a global business. It also sheds light on the major role played by women, such as the “Nana Benz”, powerful businesswomen in Togo from the 1960s onwards, in the spread and influence of this fabric.
This historical section of the exhibition also shows that the fabric owes its success above all to its motifs, the iconographic foundations of which were laid at the very beginning of the 20th century, and which draw their spectacular diversity from flora and fauna as well as political and social news. Through its patterns and cut, the garment enables the wearer to convey a message, to show that he or she belongs to a community or is committed to a cause, political or otherwise, that is close to the wearer’s heart. It thus accompanies individuals throughout their lives, making it a textile with strong affective connotations.
The richness of this iconographic repertoire today constitutes a veritable heritage, which endures over time while continuing to evolve.
When artists take up wax
Over the past two decades, wax has attracted growing interest from artists and designers who are revisiting its historical and cultural significance as much as they are exploring its aesthetic possibilities. This exhibition presents a selection of their work, showing the diversity of viewpoints and meanings surrounding wax.
For some, it is an emblem, a symbol of belonging to a shared heritage; for others, it remains a fabric imposed by European imperialism, engendering a feeling of rejection.
The works raise questions about cultural appropriation and reappropriation, as well as notions of Pan-Africanism, empowerment, the Afropean, upcycling and Afrodystopia.
The Migrations season at the Musée de l’Homme
The Musée de l’Homme is one of the 12 French sites of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle.
A cultural and scientific center open to the world, that welcomes the public to its Galerie de l’Homme, a fabulous space that explores the past, present and future of humankind. It also offers ambitious temporary exhibitions that shed light on major social debates and organizes festive and unexpected cultural events for the public. The Musée de l’Homme positions itself as a place for civic debate, to help us shed light on the complex world around us.
In view of the heated political debates on the issue of human migration, the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle has decided to place migration on a global and long-term scale by presenting two exhibitions on this theme at its Musée de l’Homme site. The first, entitled “Migrations, a human odyssey”, runs until June 8, 2025. It offers an overview of scientific research and provides essential keys to understanding the complexity of migratory phenomena, on a global scale and over the long term. The second exhibition in the Migrations season is devoted to wax, the emblematic fabric of the African continent.
The exhibition is accompanied by a program for the public. From an inaugural conference on Monday February 10 to a festive weekend around WAX on May 17 and 18, 2025, there’s something for everyone.
Find out all about the program and book your family visits and workshops at museedelhomme.fr
Pratical information :
WAX exhibition, from February 5 to September 7, 2025,
at the Musée de l’Homme
Place du Trocadéro, 75016 Paris
Full price : €15 – Reduced price: 12 €
Free for under -26s
The ticket gives access to the museum’s temporary and permanent exhibitions.
