Overview

Despite the incredible artistry and skill evident in the prolific output of New Ireland artists of the late 19th century, their work is still largely unknown. This compelling exhibition catalogue intends to rectify that by presenting a broad panorama of artistic expressions developed in New Ireland, a Pacific island northeast of Papua New Guinea, and home to one of the most sophisticated sculptural traditions in the Pacific region. The works of art featured are of such a quality that the design and craftsmanship would be undeniable in any context. However, the narrow range of time and place are especially important to our understanding of them. There is less than one hundred years between the oldest and newest works on view, yet they represent an artistic tradition that is at least four hundred years old. The story of how these arts flourished before, and even during, the period when contact with the outside world was resulting in a major dislocation of traditional cultural practices, is the subject of this book. In this fascinating read the authors attempt to describe all artistic expressions of the multiple ethnic groups of New Ireland, including lesser-known works that are of fundamental importance. The essays and beautifully reproduced illustrations highlight both the diversity and the aesthetic quality of the art.

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