Art and Society

Introduction

To learn about Art and Society in the New Guinea Highlands, watch the podcasts listed below:

• “The Village in the New Guinea Highlands” (03:43) with Purago Marabe
• “Introduction to the Bilum (string bag)” (05:15) with Michael Mel
• “Artists Discuss the Bilum” (02:29) with Purago Marabe and Martin Morububuna
• “Purago Marabe: Portrait of an Artist” (04:40) with Purago Marabe

The Enga Culture and Transition Centre in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea was a partner in the development of this curriculum. To learn more about anthropologist Polly Weissner, who helped create and fund the Enga Culture and Transition Centre, please click here. 

Bilum artist Cathy Kata 

Watch the podcast, Cathy Kata: A Bilum (string bag) Artist, to hear artist Cathy Kata describe the importance of the bilum.

Below are lyrics to a traditional bilum song:

• Bilum song (English)
• Bilum song (Imbongu)

Cultural educator Lelyame Yongapen

• Meet Lelyame Yongapen
• The Story of a Big Bird Called Kambi as told by Lelyame Yongapen
• Map of Lelyame's house and the road she follows, drawn by Lelyame Yongapen
• Map of Lelyame's garden, drawn by Lelyame Yongapen

Performance artist Michael Mel at the de Young

• 2007 Performance
• 2007 Interview
• 2009 Performance
• 2009 Interview

Films

• The Shield is My Brother (2009) is a documentary shot on location in the Wahgi Valley, Papua New Guinea directed by Mark Eby.
• The Man Who Cannot Die (2009) is a documentary featuring Kaipel Ka directed by Mark Eby.

Fact Sheets

To learn more about the images below, please visit Fact Sheet: Art.

Image Gallery

To see pictures of how these objects are used in context, please click here.