Paris: what is this heraldic mast installed in the garden of the Quai Branly Museum?

For several days now, visitors to the Quai Branly Museum have been pleasantly surprised to discover in the garden a heraldic mast, sculpted live before their eyes by contemporary artist haïda 7IDANsuu James Hart. So, what is it about? Here’s more.

This summer, the Quai Branly Museum is making waves by welcoming in its stunning garden a heraldic mast. Also known as totem poles, these large wooden sculptures are crafted by the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast of North America.

As the Paris museum gears up for its autumn opening with the exhibition "Premières Nations. Arts et cultures du Nord-Ouest de l'Amérique", the celebrated institution has invited contemporary artist 7IDANsuu James Hart to an entirely free public performance, set to run from July 22 to 29, 2026.

From the Haida Gwaii archipelago off the north coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, 7IDANsuu James Hart is a highly respected artist in his field and a leader within the Haida Nation. He was notably the first West Coast artist to work in bronze, and he has also produced works in silver and gold.

This summer, 7IDANsuu James Hart is in Paris to revive the ideas and themes embedded in a mast first carved in 2006 from a cedar trunk sourced in British Columbia. This Tuesday morning, the mast, which tops six meters, has not yet been erected. It lies laid out on a stack of wooden pallets, around which the artist works, joined by five other collaborators. While some sculpt while perched astride the mast, others demonstrate unwavering focus as they brush paint onto precisely targeted areas.

On closer inspection, three sentinels crown the head of a bear sticking out its tongue atop the heraldic mast. An opening, through which one of the sculptors is at work, is also visible, situated beneath the tongue. Finally, at the base, two salmon are depicted in low relief.

Around the artwork, some visitors take photos and videos, impressed by this extraordinarily meticulous work. Once the task is completed, this sublime Haida heraldic totem pole will be presented at the entrance to the exhibition "First Nations. Arts and Cultures of the Northwest Coast of America", running from September 29, 2026 to January 10, 2027. The piece will then join the museum's collections starting in February 2027 and will be permanently displayed in the museum's foyer.

Also note that a conference titled “First Nations of the Northwest Coast of North America: Traditions and Contemporary Issues” will be held at the Quai Branly Museum on September 30 and October 1, 2026. An opportunity to learn more about the cultures and arts of Indigenous peoples of North America.

Until then, come and experience this public performance surrounding the heraldic mast!

First Nations: History, Art and Cultures of North America on Display at the Quai Branly Museum
The Quai Branly Museum invites us to meet the First Nations of the American northwest coast with an exhibition that blends history and transmission, staged from September 29, 2026 to January 17, 2027. [Read more]