Artists taking PNG forward one stroke at a time

Weekender

By DON WOTTON

ART, culture and tourism work well together, and when combined with effective marketing, they can provide a sustainable livelihood. Enter the Royal Queensland Art Society in Brisbane, Australia.
Following a successful exhibition last year, the art society is once again making its Petrie Terrace Art Gallery in Brisbane available to Port Moresby artists to exhibit their work there from Feb 26 to March 12.
Last year’s three-week exhibition, titled “Nine Mile Smiles”, attracted a number of high profile visitors, including Justice John Logan, Papua New Guinea Supreme Court judge, Ian Kemmish, former Australian high commissioner to PNG, Ruth McDougall, Pacific arts curator, State Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland, and Birdwing Publishing chief executive Russell Jackson.
The general consensus among members of the art society and visiting public was that it was the best exhibition ever held at the gallery.
Visitors were captivated by the exuberant colour, unique subject matter and variety of artworks that showcased the talent of PNG’s contemporary artists.
Vector works by Gima Segore and acrylic paintings by Michael Mape proved popular, and artworks by Gickmai Kundon, Willey Kauage, Gigs Wena, Nombri Temine and Andrew Kayuna were all considered very commendable.
Photographs by John Rubeia also generated a lot of interest.
Artists who travelled to Brisbane for the exhibition were warmly received by member of the art society during their stay there, joining them in life-drawing and water-colour classes, assisting in setting up exhibits and participating in all gallery activities.
The upcoming exhibition, “Nui Gini Brushstrokes”, promises to be more spectacular than last year’s event and will provide an opportunity for the artists who struggle to find a market for their work in Port Moresby to actively participate in promoting PNG art, culture and tourism abroad.
“It was a great opportunity to see what other artists outside of PNG are producing and to discover that even though many artists in PNG are self-taught, their work is of a high standard and with the right buyer, their artwork can achieve a good price,” Mape, a familiar face at the regular Port Moresby craft markets, said of his experience at last year’s exhibition.
“It is my wish that there is a similar venue in Port Moresby where we can exhibit our work.”

Don Wotton is a member of the Royal Queensland Art Society in Brisbane, Australia.