Exhibition exploring the art of Oceania opens in Shanghai

An exquisite exhibition of art and crafts from the Oceania region was unveiled in Shanghai recently, offering Chinese visitors an opportunity to peek into the ancient culture and society of the Pacific islands.

Titled Arts of the Great Ocean, the special exhibition, staged in the Shanghai Museum and set to run through Aug 18, features 150 exhibits - including a wooden oar carved with an intricate geometric design, a canoe prow sculpted to resemble a human face, a jade tiki pendant and a sperm whale ivory necklace.

All the artifacts were selected from the collection of France's Musee du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, which boasts an eclectic catalog of more than 30,000 exhibits from the Oceania region.