Nuku Taeroto
It was on the way back from a painting dive in the Tuamotus.
"Oh look, a blue cloud", said my friend Gwen, as we crossed the wonderful atoll of Anaa in a small boat (…).
Abstracts
It is true that the appearance of these blue clouds is striking!
In the past, Oceanian navigators used to spot the presence of an island or atoll in this way. First they sailed by the stars, then they followed the flight of pelagic birds in distant approaches and finally, closer to the shore of these invisible islands, because they were barely a few metres above the ocean, they spotted the lagoons thanks to the turquoise or veronese green clouds reflecting their light. In the Pau'motu language they are called Nuku Taeroto. Nuku means cloud and taeroto means reflection of the lagoon.
Extract from Escales en Polynésie, 2020, Éditions Au vent des îles.
Works
Anaa, Tuamotu
Oil on paper
190 x 140 cm
Anaa, Tuamotu
Oil on paper
41 x 31 cm
Anaa, Tuamotu
Oil on paper
41 x 31 cm
Anaa, Tuamotu
Oil on paper
41 x 31 cm
Anaa, Tuamotu
Oil on paper
41 x 31 cm
Anaa, Tuamotu
Oil on paper
41 x 31 cm
Anaa, Tuamotu
Oil on paper
41 x 31 cm
Anaa, Tuamotu
Oil on paper
41 x 31 cm
Anaa, Tuamotu
Oil on paper
41 x 31 cm
Fakarava, Tuamotu
Pastel on paper (plastic)
70 x 50 cm
Fakarava, Tuamotu
Pastel on paper (plastic)
70 x 50 cm
Maps
Huile sur toile, 140 x 103 cm
Making-of
© Gwen Le Bras
© Gwen Le Bras
Film : Anna et Fakarava © Gwen le Bras