JOE NALO
JAKUPA AKO
LARRY SANTANA
TIMOTHY AKIS
MARTIN MORUBUBUNA
HESO KIWI
WINNIE WEOA
CHRIS KAUAGE
ANDY NOMBRI
GIGS WENA
ANDREW KAYANU
JOHN BOM
JOHN DANGER
MATHIAS KAUAGE
Mathias Kauage was born in 1945 in a small, remote Highlands village called Miugu, located in the Chimbu Province of Papua New Guinea. In 1968 Kauage moved to PNG's capital Port Moresby, where his career as an artist started to flourish under the tutelage of Georgina Beier. He went on to become PNG's most well known artist, inspiring many young PNG artists to follow his lead. His work has been exhibited in Australia, Europe and Africa. Mathias Kauage passed away in May of 2003 after dedicating his life to the arts. His work has become highly sort after and he has left a legacy that every young PNG artist aspires to.
Back to TopJOE NALO
Joe Nalo was born in 1951 on Johnson Island in Manus Province of Papua New Guinea. In 1966 he moved to Port Moresby where he attended Port Moresby Teaching College and then progressed to various teaching positions around PNG whilst continuing with his art. Between 1979 and 1989 he was promoted to Lecturer in Painting at the National Arts School and continued to undertake commissions and hold exhibitions. In 1991 Joe became a fulltime artist and has enjoyed great success in PNG as well as abroad.
Back to TopJAKUPA AKO
Jakupa Ako, widely known simply as Jakupa, was born in the Bena Bena area of the Eastern Highlands around 1942. Whilst working as a janitor at the Teachers College in Goroka he became interested in the arts and joined in with the art students. He was encouraged in this area by the head of Expressive Arts and eventually offered a scholarship. Jakupa went on to hold exhibitions in Australia and various other Pacific areas and undertake commissions for private businesses and the Government. In 1981 Jakupa received an OBE. In 1997 he died suddenly from Malaria.
Back to TopLARRY SANTANA
Larry Santana was born in the Ramu Valley region of Papua New Guinea in 1962. He grew up in the coastal town of Madang, where his artistic talents were observed in his high school years. Upon completion of his studies, Santana moved to Port Moresby to commence work for an advertising company. He also started to work professionally as an artist in this time holding successful local exhibitions which then progressed on to international exhibitions in Brussels and America. Santana and his family have since returned to live in Madang where he continues to work as one of PNG's most successful and admired artists.
Back to TopTIMOTHY AKIS
Timothy Akis, was born in Tsembaga village in the Simbai Valley of Madang Province of Papua New Guinea. Whilst working for a visiting anthropologist (Georgeda Buchbinder) , Akis drew pictures to help identify and record plants and animals. Impressed with Akis’s talent, Buchbinder brought Akis to Port Moresby to meet Georgina Beier. She then encouraged Akis to pursue his talent. Akis was the first artist in Papua New Guinea to hold an exhibition. He went on to hold exhibitions in America, United Kingdom, Switzerland and the Philippines. Akis passed away in 1984.
Back to TopMARTIN MORUBUBUNA
Martin was born in 1957 on Kiriwina, the largest of the Trobriand Islands. This is an area known for its carving of elaborate canoe prows for boats used in inter-island voyages called kula. At an early age he was adopted by his grandfather, who magically endowed him with the power called Sopi, to think and see clearly. Morububuna therefore believed from childhood that he was destined to be an artist. Under his grandfather's tutelage, he began to carve small objects. In primary school, he started to draw and paint and in high school he engaged in many artistic activities including playing in a string band.
In 1974 Morububuna's life widened when he met John Kasaipwalova, the radical Trobriand playwright and politician who was working to revitalise Trobriand culture and economics. Kasaipwalova became Morububuna's mentor and brought him to enrol at the Creative Arts Centre. For the next six years Morububuna divided his time between studying at the Centre and working on artistic projects in Port Moresby or the Trobriands. Despite difficulties with finding housing and raising a family, he managed to exhibit his work. In 1974 he contributed to a group exhibition at the Waigani Arts Centre and in 1975, 1977 and 1983 held solo shows at the NAS.
Beginning in 1984, Morububuna also began to get commissions through the school's Production Workshop. These included murals for the University of PNG, carvings for the state banquet table in Parliament House and facades for local markets. He also designed and executed murals for Port Moresby General Hospital. In 1986 he founded his own company, Sai Arts, to become more involved with the increasing demand for the applied arts of PNG.
PNG's declining economy in the 1990's - linked to the civil war in Bougainville - has made it very difficult for Morububuna's business to keep operating. When he earns no income, he returns to his village and lives as a subsistence farmer. Morububuna refers to his mode of representation as bung wantaim, a bringing together of different?? or people. "When I paint in my bung wantaim style, I am showing not only my background but what is happening to PNG. I am trying to bring it all together - the people, the many lifestyles brought about by modernisation, our rich traditions. You can recognise my work, eyes, noses... But this is not just my style, it's everybody's... Papua New Guinean, tasol! (that's all)."
Martin has several pieces displayed in the National Gallery of Australia and has held numerous exhibitions in Australia.
Back to TopHESO KIWI
Heso Kiwi was born in Hougo village, Morobe Province. Heso graduated in Fine Arts and graphic Arts in 1986 from the National Arts School of Papua New Guinea. His teachers were the highly esteemed Mathias Kauage, Timothy Akis and Jakupa who were all artists in residence at the time as well as Joe Nalo. "We are culturally diverse with 700 different languages. I love painting and drawing the diversity as a native of this country. My pen drawing depicts rural lifestyle. The billums (string bag) play a major role with women folk from my area - my view especially of our mothers as the real heroes of burden." Heso is an extremely gifted artist who works not only in ink but produces magnificent pieces in water colour also. He is considered to be one of Papua New Guinea's most talented artists with his work much sort after.
Back to TopWINNIE WEOA
Winnie was born in 1971 in Enga Province. At the age of 10 she moved with her Father to Port Moresby to attend a special school as Winnie, since birth, has been mute. The medical reason for her disability is unknown. Whilst attending school in Moresby, Winnie met an expatriate Australian family who became her foster parents. Her new adopted family encouraged her artistic ability and in 1992 Winnie studied Arts at the University of Port Moresby where she achieved a Certificate and Diploma of Arts. Winnie discovered "Dot Painting", an art form which Aborigines in neighbouring Australia have practiced for thousands of years. Winnie's art is frequently representative of Papua New Guinean life and illustrates the passion she feels for her nation, her countrymen and her rich cultural background. Winnie's paintings are extremely colourful and intricate. They convey optimistic images, which reflect the positive personal outlook of the artist. Winnie has travelled on several occasions to Melbourne and Sydney in Australia to exhibit her work. Winnie offers a unique insight to Papua New Guinean life from a woman's perspective. In a male dominated PNG, it is refreshing and encouraging to see such brilliant artwork being produced by a Papua New Guinea woman. Winnie is a highly respected PNG artist whose work is in great demand.
Back to TopCHRIS KAUAGE
Chris lost his mother at the age of 11 and from that time on could no longer attend school. When his older sister later married and moved to Port Moresby, she took Chris with her. In Moresby he met Mathias Kauage and enrolled in art school. After several years as a part time student, Chris Kauage received a scholarship to the Academy of Art, which he completed at the end of 1988. Chris is married and often his paintings depict family life and the relationship between the sexes. Although he was taken in by Mathias Kauage, Chris has secured his own technique of painting and there is really no resemblance between their work. Chris possesses his own individual style and has a tremendous natural talent.
Back to TopANDY NOMBRI
Andy Nombri was born in 1975 and is from Kundiawa in the Chimbu Province. In 1994 he moved to Port Moresby and first became interested in art in 1997 when he started experimenting and drawing "stick men" in ink on paper. Andy worked for the U.S. Embassy as a dispatch clerk for a period of ten years and it was there that he was encouraged to pursue his artistic career. Several Embassy staff saw Andy's work and admired his ability and gave him the confidence to continue painting. Andy's work is distinguishable by his use of sharp angles and extensive use of black and white. He now works mainly on canvas in oils and acrylic. He draws inspiration from his rich cultural heritage and complex rituals that make PNG unique. Andy strongly believes that the people from Chimbu possess a special gift. He speaks with passion and certainty that the Chimbu Province produces exceptionally gifted artists who also possess an innocence which is conveyed into the artwork. He tells a story of a group of foreigners visiting the Chimbu Province; a group of locals have drawn pictures and upon their completion throw them away, not giving them a second thought. The visiting foreigners retrieve them from the rubbish and are amazed and impressed by the level of skill and artistry that has been produced and then so nonchalantly discarded, exclaiming that there was "something special" in their work. This story demonstrates the attitude of the Chimbu people about their talent. In their province, they are not exceptional but outside it, they most definitely are. Andy is immensely proud of his heritage and this is portrayed through his work. Andy currently lives in Port Moresby with his wife who works at a beauty salon to help support their two young daughters, whilst Andy is now a full time artist.
Back to TopGIGS WENA
Gigs Wena was born in 1972 and comes from the Simbu (Chimbu) Province. Contrary to his sister Jane (also an artist) who remained in the capital Port Moresby, Gigs returned to his parent's village and there, amongst other things, he worked as a bread baker. Gigs only began painting and sculpting in 1992. After observing his older sister painting, he was inspired to do the same. He then returned to Moresby to pursue his career as an artist. However Gigs withdraws continually back to his village, where he would prefer to live rather than in the city. Gigs' work, much of which he has painted in his village Nombuna (Kerowagi), still smell of the smoke from the windowless native houses in which he works. In Gigs' paintings, elements of traditional culture as well as native wildlife such as Geckos and multicoloured birds dominate.
Back to TopANDREW KAYANU
Andrew hales from the capital of the Simbu Province, Kundiawa. He was born in 1971 and made the move to Port Moresby in 1989. Andrew is a self taught grass roots artist and is inspired by his country's deep traditions and believes it to be immensely important to stay in touch with subjects that are culturally significant. Andrew started painting in 2000. He had always enjoyed drawing however did not venture into the artistry of painting until he met his neighbours, who were artists. Their work inspired him and Andrew experimented in different art forms until he mastered his technique that is uniquely his. He has had no formal training. Andrew primarily focused on the warrior and provincial faces of PNG. Dramatic, intense images of fascinating features that engage the eye, however he is now looking at varying techniques and subjects, making his artwork intriguing as he pushes his own artistic boundaries. Andrew is married and is a full time artist. He only manages to return to his village once every five years or so due to the expense of travel in PNG.
Back to TopJOHN BOM
John is another talented Simbu province artist who derives from the Kerowagi region. He was born around 1966/67 and moved from his village to Port Moresby in 1989. His sister Elizabeth was already living in Port Moresby with her family, so John was able to move in with them. John's brother-in-law is none other than the revered PNG artist Mathias Kauage. It is abundantly clear where John garnered his inspiration from. Living under the same roof as the great artist, John was able to witness first hand the techniques and passion that went into a Kauage artwork. Some similarities are bound to occur in John's work, however he has formed his own style and although, as with Kauage's work, it is bold and colourful, it also has his own stamp of individuality. John's subject matter favours the native animals of Papua New Guinea including geckos and birds of paradise. He is also fascinated by the relationships between man and woman and focus's on these complex issues. John is married with 3 young children.
Back to TopJOHN DANGER
John Danger Ulka was born in the village of Kakagl in the Gemblog District of Simbu Province on the 10th of November 1969. John grew up in the village which is dominated by the majestic Mount Wilhelm, the highest mountain in PNG, soaring to 4509m. John attended the local school and then worked as a farmer in the foothills of Mt Wilhelm. In 1999 John came to Port Moresby and without any formal training became a grass roots artist. His paintings depict scenes of the people and their surroundings. Each painting tells a story of the way of life in this country from the Gulf province to the Highlands. John's paintings are popular with the tourists and local people including business houses in Port Moresby. He was featured on the Air Niugini 2001 House Calendar with his scene of a Gulf family fishing. John's paintings are a popular attraction at the craft market in Port Moresby and most days he can be found outside the Holiday Inn in Waigani, displaying his paintings together with other grass roots and contemporary artists of the city.
Back to Top