The Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival: Celebrating Cultural Diversity
2014/10/15
As we walk through the large, wooden gates of Constitution Park in Port Moresby, there is excitement all around. Artists are enthusiastically selling their wares from the traditional huts that line the walkways, a sing-sing group with bright colours and long feathers takes it place on the stage, and a traditional long haus looms over the hundreds of people walking by. This is the 5th Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival, hosted for the first time by Papua New Guinea.
It all began in 1984, when leaders from Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia met to discuss opportunities for cooperation within the Melanesian region. They acknowledged that culture was an important and powerful element within their societies and agreed that it needed to be preserved, protected and promoted. The idea for a Melanesian arts festival was born, and since the first festival in 1998, it has been an on-going success.
Held from 29 June – 10 July 2014 across various locations within Port Moresby other than the main base at Constitution Park in Waigani, including the Moresby Arts Theatre, University of PNG, Jack Pidik Park, National Museum, and Ela Beach, the arts festival was a colourful showcase of the rich and diverse cultures within the region. From traditional dancing, fire walking, painting, theatre performances, fashion shows, canoeing and live musical performances, the festival demonstrated that the culture of Melanesia is still very much alive in its people.
“It’s good to be here,” says Vanuatu carver James Philemon, as he takes a break from the long totem pole he is carving. “Our traditions and cultures are important to us and we want to share that with other people. We speak through our art and share stories about who we are.”
As James continues to carve, his chisel naturally following the lines of the wood, a collection of images start to emerge. Next to him, an artist is drawing traditional patterns on a sand board with his finger at a mesmerising speed, the shapes of turtles and fish and flowers weaving together like magic. In the background, the deep, soulful music from a local band reverberates from the main stage and cheers of delight rise from the captivated audience members.
The Melanesian Arts Festival was indeed a celebration of diversity, a rich tapestry of colour that shows the world that arts and culture is still very much alive in Melanesia.
Article published in Vision City Magazine, October 2014, Papua New Guinea
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- Yams reaching over 1m in length are displayed in the traditional carrying sticks, a symbol of the Sepik tradition
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- A woman from Enga Province, with her brightly coloured face, is about to begin her traditional performance
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- Silhouetted against the red flames of the fire, the Baining Fire Dancers have an unearthly presence
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- As the fire reaches its peak, the Baining Fire Dancers dance through, kicking up the embers into the dark sky
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- The Baining Fire Dancers wait until the fire is at its peak, dancing around it to the beat of bamboos music
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- The haunting masks of the Baining Fire Dancers
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- Dancers from Morobe Province are strangely lit by the multi-coloured flood lights on the main stage
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- Dancers from Morobe Province are strangely lit by the multi-coloured flood lights on the main stage
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- Dancers from Morobe Province are strangely lit by the multi-coloured flood lights on the main stage
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- Evening performances showcase some of Papua New Guinea's top musicians
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- The moon peaks out from behind the clouds, a strange juxtaposition against the florescent palm tree in a traditional setting
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- Pic 3: As the final swirls are added, a beautiful turtle emerges from the sand, much to the bewilderment of the watching crowd
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- Pic 2: The artist begins to add intricate swirls to his drawing in the sand
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- Pic 1: An artist from Vanuatu begins his piece with a grid drawn in the sand
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- Carver James Philemon from Vanuatu says it is a privilege to be at the festival
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- Constitution Park is lined with a variety of brightly coloured stalls selling traditional wares
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- Inside the long haus, shafts of lights pierce through the wooden slats of the wall and floor
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- A young man displays his simple, yet somewhat disturbing, mask
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- A man teaches a young boy the traditional methods of painting from Western Province
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- Traditional carvings from Western Province, inside the long haus
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- Traditionally only men are allowed inside the long haus, but on this occasion it is a spectacle for all to see
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- Constitution Park is decorated with a variety of sculptures from across Papua New Guinea
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- The traditional long haus from Western Province measured more than 20m long and 10m wide. Built entirely from traditional materials, and not using a single nail, the structure took more than three months to build
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- A group of women from Simbu Province, with their great headdresses blowing in the wind
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- Adorned in leaves slicked with oil, dancers are ready to perform their traditional sing-sing
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- Traditional patterns are drawn through a thin layer of light mud that covers the skin
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- These men from Daru are happy to share the tales of their culture
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- Women from Sepik wait outside their long haus, not entirely pleased with the proceedings of the day
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- A headdress from Fiji bears the name of the Melanesian Arts Festival
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- The carvers tools of the trade, neatly lined up on the stony floor
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- Traditional performances are found in every corner of Constitution Park
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- A long mask that bears the symbol of a bird
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- Eerie masks tower above the crowds
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- Traditional dress has multiple layers, each item telling its own cultural story
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- A new group of performers arrive in an open-back truck, the spittle from their bettlenut strewn across the side
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- Crocodiles are an important cultural symbol for the people of Gulf Province, and they believe that in the beginning of time all life sprouted from this important reptile
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- Carvers start work on their story board
