Whose Story? Reimagining a Cultural Center

What happens when a group of people lose interest in a place meant to serve them? In the heart of Atuona, the primary village of Hiva Oa, a string of interconnected Polynesian-style buildings nestle among beds of tropical flowers. Known as the Paul Gauguin Cultural Center, this space was established in 2003 by then mayor of Hiva Oa, Guy Rauzy, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Gauguin’s death and to increase local economic opportunities through tourism. It was also a place for Marquesans to learn about culture, in general. Students from Hiva Oa came each year to view its contents and the small collection of cultural books stored in a corner of the entrance hall. Yet the name betrays its primary focus: celebrating the memory of the French painter Paul Gauguin, who spent his final years of life here. When he died, in 1903, Gauguin was buried in the Catholic cemetery overlooking the village and the seething Pacific Ocean beyond. <a href="https://medium.com/@emilycdonaldson/whose-story-reimagining-a-cultural-center-fce0262c6e65">Website</a>