Musée du Quai Branly

 
French presidents seem to like leaving a legacy, normally cultural or intellectual (except Sarkozy). Mitterand, for instance, would be associated with the pyramide at the Louvre museum or the gigantic library (Bibliothèque). Chirac's legacy is the Museum Quai Branly. Located not far from la tour Eiffel, it is a museum dedicated to arts from Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Americas and other indegenous or non-western people (SouthPacific islands, Australia, NZ and Canada). Being of Asian origin, I immediately feel home in this museum which seems to put values in 'my people's' art so to speak (Chirac was said to be enamored with Japan and Africa).
The architecture of the new building is  very pleasant to look at from the outside (architect : Jean

Nouvel), and inside, long and narrow corridors shaped like a river complete with projected lights (actually words) simulating currents take you to different parts of the world. Gigantic objects from south America such as totems or other decorations for houses, statues from Indonesia and Africa, masks from Africa and other objects decorative or functional and jewelry from south America and from practically all Asian countries can be found in this museum. Being a gay man, I was particularly impressed by the statues from Nias (Sumatra island in Indonesia) which depicted men with huge penises (that seem to be in erection too !). There was also a pre-Dogon (Mali) statue depicting man and a woman in a single individual (the individual has both breasts and a penis). I think the museum has indeed achieved its goal, to present objects from non-European people for their beauty only (rather than anthropological or ethnograpic or scientific interests). These are objects to be savoured by the eyes and the heart of each visitor.