Located between Chile and Tahiti, Easter Island bears an historical significance disproportionate to its modest size. Best known for its enormous stone statues or Moai, which are thought to commemorate prominent ancestors, Easter Island was ‘discovered’ on Easter Sunday, April 5th 1722 by Dutch navigator, Jakob Roggeveen. Previously its inhabitants knew it as Rapa Nui.
Rapa Nui has suffered greatly, its unenviable reputation as an ecological black spot sealed by the dramatic destruction of its forests. However, with the growth of exotic tourism, it has found popularity among travellers who are not deterred by the thought of the five-and-a-half hour flight from Santiago de Chile. These days the island contains more than 20 restaurants that specifically cater to tourists.
Louis Vuitton, in association with other artistic collaborators, is taking part in a project to preserve the island, the ‘Moai: Journey of Light’ project, and in the creation of a Rapa Nui Foundation in 2009 to preserve the environment, the heritage, culture and sustainable development of the island.
Furthermore Vuitton is hoping to honour this civilization during the next Vuitton Exposition by presenting ‘Silent Writings’ (Écritures Silencieuses), original glyphic tablets found on the island itself and, until recently, stored in the Vatican. Along with these artefacts, known as the ‘Rongo Rongo’ tablets, will be sculpture, music and pieces of art from various contemporary artists such as Barbara Kruger, Tracey Emin, Ernesto Neto and Jenny Holzer. The themes mirror those of the ancient Moai with the art pieces ranging from gigantic wall paintings, to poetry, graffiti, and much more.
The Rapa Nui Foundation hopes to provide assistance to the island on both a humane and a cultural level. With a leading brand such as Louis Vuitton in the picture, the profile of this unique island can only benefit from subsequent international publicity.
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