Stamps promote local artist

By DENNIS ORERE
THE works of one of PNG’s finest creative artists, late Mathias Kauage, will be featured on PNG postage stamps.
The stamps – “Pioneers Arts IV” – were officially launched at the University of Papua New Guinea’s Ulli Beier Building yesterday by Post PNG Ltd managing director Peter Maiden.
Kauage, from Chimbu, who passed away in 2003, was an exuberant painter and a founding figure of modern art in the Pacific.
He was one of PNG’s internationally renowned professional artists whose exhibition acclaimed international prominence across Europe, USA, Asia and the Pacific.
In the late 1960s, Kauage was employed as a labourer in Port Moresby and was inspired by an exhibition of drawings by a fellow highlander Timothy Akis.
Like Akis, Kauage was encouraged by British-born artist and art enthusiast Georgina Beier to be involved in arts.
Together with husband German-born Ulli Beier, Georgina influentially supported contemporary art, theatre and literature in PNG, Nigeria and elsewhere.
Kauage’s early works included drawings of fantastic creatures inspired by Chimbu myth, but soon progressed to scenes of life in Port Moresby and political events.
Embracing colour, he went on to produce major paintings on PNG’s independence in 1975 and other things.
Late Kauage’s wife and two sons were present at the stamp launching, saying they were so happy that the works of their father were being recognised.
“Post PNG has been producing a collection of very unique and beautifully-designed stamps, sought after by collectors and people all over the world,” Maiden said.
Post PNG plans to do 15 stamp issues this year and “Pioneers Arts IV” stamp issue is the fourth for the year.