Living Spirits with Fixed Abodes : The Masterpieces Exhibition of the Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery

On the eve of Papua New Guinea's attainment of independence from Australia, Chief Minister Michael Somare referred to the new nation's cultural treasures as "living spirits with fixed abodes." He was referring to the prevailing belief of Papua New Guineans that everything is invested with spirit, not least the objects carved, modeled, or constructed for ceremonial, and often everyday, use. The Masterpieces Exhibition includes the most significant cultural treasures on display at the Papua New Guinea's national museum. This book gives the reader a thorough account of each of the exhibition's 209 pieces. An introduction aims to give the general reader an idea of the significance of the objects and how they are to be understood. Other chapters provide a brief history of the museum and its role in forging national identity. Editor Barry Craig sets the individual works in their local context with historical and field photographs. The objects are dealt with under various headings: Watercraft, Architecture, Household Items, Gardening and Fertility Figures, Hunting and Warfare, Musical Instruments, Masks and Mortuary Objects. In 1977, the Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery moved into a new building, located next to, but constructed before, the National Parliament. The new nation adopted a constitution, the preamble to which asserts: We, the people of Papua New Guinea ... pay homage to the memory of our ancestors ... [and] acknowledge the worthy customs and traditional wisdoms of our people ... Thus the cultural heritage of the nation was given a very high priority. Exhibitions at the new museum building were developed to show the prehistory of the people, some of the more striking natural heritage, and a selection of the most significant cultural treasures were given pride of place in the central exhibition hall Foreword / Michael Somare -- Preface / Thierry Bernadac And Jacques-olivier Manet -- Introduction / Barry Craig -- Short History Of The Papua New Guinea National Museum / Mark Busse --work Of The National Museum / Mark Busse -- Role Of The National Museum In Contemporary Papua New Guinea Society / Soroi Marepoe Eoe -- Masterpieces Exhibition / Barry Craig -- App. 1. Functions Of The National Museum And Art Gallery --app. 2. Ethnographic Collections Of The National Museum / Barry Craig. Barry Craig, Mark Busse, Soroi Eoe ; Editor, Barry Craig ; Photography, David Becker, Anthony L. Crawford. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 265-275) And Indexes. Contents 6 Foreword 8 Preface 9 Acknowledgements 10 Maps 11 Chapter 1 Introduction 24 Chapter 2 Short History of the Papua New Guinea National Museum 28 Chapter 3 The Work of the National Museum 38 Chapter 4 The Role of the National Museum in Contemporary Papua New Guinea Society 42 Chapter 5 The ‘Masterpieces’ Exhibition 48 Appendix 1 Functions of the National Museum and Art Gallery 276 Appendix 2 Ethnographic Collections of the National Museum 277 Bibliography 288 Sources of Illustrations 299 Sources of Masterpieces 300 Index of Masterpieces 301 General Index 303