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Rediscovering art
By PETER LEO ELLA
“Re-Discover PNG’s Contemporary Culture” is the theme for this
years third National Arts & Crafts Exhibition (NACE) to be staged
in Lae, Morobe province from October 15 to 28.
For the first time, since its inception in 2005, the exhibition
will be staged together with a workshop and symposium.
The NACE was an initiative of the National Cultural Commission (NCC)
to provide an avenue for artist and artisans to showcase their
creative skills and talents.
The NCC has for a number of years being involved only with staging
of cultural festivals.
The NACE working committees comprises professional artists Gickmai
Kundun, Gazellah Bruda, Henry Iyaro, Barlyde Katit, Stalin Jawa
and Nicholas Garnier and representatives from statutory
organizations such as IPA, National Museum, and Dept of Trade and
Industry.
There is a prevalent cultural deficiency pandemic across the
nation as we look forward to celebrate our 32 years of
Independence.
In retrospect, the arts industry, be it music, fine arts,
literature, and crafts, during the late 70’s and the 80’s era were
flourishing and thriving in par with international standards.
The famous Sanguma Band, a quality cocktail of then National Arts
School music students made the music scene awing international
audiences with a creative fusion of contemporary jazz and
traditional music that baffled overseas music critics into
branding it ‘ethnic jazz’.
“A thousand years in a life time” by Sir Albert Maori Kiki, was
the first literacy publication by a Papua New Guinean.
His book opened the floodgate for other high calibre writers to
emerge, the likes of Author Jawodimbari, Kumalau Tawali, Russell
Soaba, and our current Governor General His Excellency Sir Paulius
Matane.
It was a remarkable era in the modern art history of PNG, as it
was a period of confusion and fusion, as the old tries to adapt
and make sense of the new.
It was also a crucial period as the new Independent nation of PNG
struggled to identify a common cultural trend to unite the 700
plus diverse culture.
With the forthcoming exhibition, the NACE committee is embarking
on the renaissance, or rebirth of the lost pride of PNG’s arts and
crafts.
The third NACE through the workshop and the symposium endeavours
to map out the evolution of PNG’s contemporary culture, especially
arts and crafts, and to chart the future course.
We may admit to know about a fraction, in regard to our
traditional history, but the contemporary cultural trend indicates
an appalling void of pride and respect in our invaluable arts,
crafts, and traditional culture.
This is due to the crafty subliminal bombardment of contemporary
overseas mainstream culture, and commercialisation.
The staging of the third NACE will endeavour to utilise talented
artists and artisans, and harness its potential for national
development. For so long artists and artisans have being
spectators in the development of PNG or have been ignored.
The third NACE is an open category exhibition. Registration forms
can be obtained from the National Cultural Commission office at
Gordons, Port Moresby.
Interested artists and artisans can contact the office on
telephone 323 5120 and talked to Mr. Stephen Waine.
The NACE working committee is calling for assistance from
agencies, statutory organizations and corporate business houses to
be a partner in showing their support in reviving the pride of
Papua New Guinea, its Arts and Culture.
The writer is the Chairman of the NACE Working Committee
 
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