#pngsun #news: A special art exhibition titled ‘Returning Home Artists’ was launched this morning (Monday) at the Marriot Apartments in Port Moresby Downtown as part of Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations.
The exhibition featured works from Papua New Guinean artists living in Australia, including Grace Hasu Dlabik, Yuriyal Bridgeman, Lesley Wengemgo, Serge Ahwong, and Jeremiah Neuendorf.
While the other artists were unable to attend in person, Grace returned home to represent them and shared their works with the people of Port Moresby.
NCD Governor Hon. Powes Parkop commended the artists for reconnecting with their homeland through art
He praised Grace for carrying the voice of her colleagues.
“On behalf of the city, I want to commend Grace and her colleagues, artists of PNG origin who live abroad, particularly in Australia.
I am very pleased they have been able to come back and share this moment with us for our 50th Independence anniversary,” Governor Parkop said.
“Although some of them are not here physically, they are with us through their art. Art can inspire us as we look forward to the next 50 years, reminding us of who we are, our culture and our values.
“We cannot avoid the changes happening around us – technology, the economy, new systems – but we must not forget our heritage and the values that have guided us for thousands of years.
As we adapt to the modern world, we must balance the old and the new to move forward together.
That is why we promote Port Moresby as a city of culture, arts, business, tourism and investment.”
Speaking on behalf of the artists, Grace Hasu Dlabik, a Naarm (Melbourne)-based artist with roots in Gulf and Central provinces, shared the meaning behind their works.
She said they use traditional elements such as natural pigments, patterns and motifs to reflect Papua New Guinean identity.
“Being in diaspora, we all long for a deeper connection to home. It is very meaningful to do this on our 50th anniversary, to honour our past, our present, and what we hope for the future,” she said.
“This is about celebrating what it means to be Papua New Guinean, what independence means for us, and how we imagine the future of nation building through art.
“Our culture is so vibrant and diverse it deserves to be at the forefront. We are creating these works in Australia but want to share them with the rest of the world.
We should always be proud of who we are, where we come from, and one way to connect deeply with our roots is through art.”
Director of Amazing Port Moresby, Fazila Bazari, said the exhibition also showed the power of art in uniting people.
“It is so lovely to see how visual art is making such a strong comeback,” she said.
“In my five years as director, I have seen that what really unites people are the things that cannot be spoken – the feelings art creates. Art, music and culture bring people together because they touch us at a deeper level.
When you see it, you feel it, and when you feel good, you act good. That is why events like concerts, carnivals and now this exhibition are so important, because they bring pride, joy and unity during our 50th anniversary celebrations.”
The Returning Home Artists exhibition highlights the role of creativity in celebrating identity and connecting Papua New Guineans at home and abroad.