| Sports |
PNG art on show in
Cairns
By A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
An art exhibition celebrating the rich and unique visual culture
of Papua New Guinea opened in Cairns last Friday and continues
until July 29.
The exhibition, named "Papuwah: The Art of Niugini", was opened at
the Cairns Regional Gallery by Dr Susan Cochrane, a well-known
authority on the art of Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Region
and author of several books on the subject.
Papuwah is a Malay term meaning island of the fuzzy hairs.
During her opening speech, Dr Cochrane commented not only on the
variety of art displayed but on the very difficult circumstances
in which local artists found themselves when they were in need of
quality materials for their work.
These materials, such as canvases and paints, frequently had to be
provided by an interested purchaser to ensure a high standard of
work.
Comprised of carvings, textiles, bilums and basketry, paintings
and prints, Papuwah draws from a variety of art forms combining
new forms with traditional practices - connecting the past with
the present.
"Papua New Guinea's arts are regarded as the most vital and varied
in the Pacific," said exhibitions manager Brian Robinson.
"The lack of contact between different villages and groups of
people has resulted in a rich and potent national heritage of
indigenous art.
"In traditional societies, art and culture - dance, song, music,
sculpture and body adornment - were bound together, with art
usually taking the form of carvings and artefacts related to
ceremonies.
"Art was either utilitarian - such as bowls or canoes - or
religious.
"The master carvers or mask makers roles were to enable the
ceremonies and rituals to be performed correctly, and to serve the
clan and chief.
"Art served the culture.
"While the production of artefacts and associated paraphernalia
rested within the male's domain, women's artistic practice often
centred around the production of cloth and textiles in various
forms."
Robinson said that with the establishment in 1972 of the Faculty
of Creative Arts (National Art School) at the University of Papua
New Guinea, Port Moresby, a new era in art production began.
"Largely a concern of the urban-based artist, the school offered
training in western art techniques with a strong emphasis on
printmaking and painting," he added.
"Some of its graduates, Mathias Kauage, Timothy Akis and Cecil
King Wungi have earned international reputations.
"Today, art production continues to flourish, aided through the
works of numerous practitioners including Joe Nalo, Daniel Waswas,
Purago Murabe and Agatha Waramin.
"Through this exhibition, Papuwah: The Art of Niugini, Cairns
Regional Gallery continues to showcase the rich cultural diversity
of our Northern region."
Meanwhile, two lengths of hand-printed fabric (pictured below)
produced by the team of boys at Malolo, Port Moresby City Mission,
are hanging in pride of place in the centre of the exhibition.
It is quite an achievement for the boys to have their work hanging
alongside those of world-famous PNG artists such as Mathias Kauage,
Martin Morububuna and others.
More of their fabric lengths are on sale in the Gallery Shop
during the period of the exhibition which will continue until July
29.
More examples of the work of Malolo Fabric printing can be seen at
www.malolopapuaniugini.com.
 
|
