Co-sponsored by MOA
Using the traditional bilum, the woven net bag made by women, as his focal point, Dr Mel discusses its role both as art and ethnic commodity in the global market place. He views art in general as a vehicle for story-telling, recording history, and bringing people together in times of joy and of sadness. Artists, he says, are those who create works that become binding forces, bringing a sense of belonging, cultural continuity and survival. He discusses how the trauma of colonialism, the discourse around the meaning of ‘traditional’ versus ‘contemporary,’ and the challenge of Euro-stereotyping have entangled the meanings and subsequent understanding of PNG art today. Despite all this the bilum has persisted as an important functional object and more recently as an inspiration for artists who have transformed it into a work of art and a contributor to the international fashion scene.
