In this Book
- Living Spirits with Fixed Abodes
- Book
- 2010
- Published by: University of Hawai'i Press
summary
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.
Table of Contents
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- Acknowledgements
- p. ix
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- pp. 1-4
- Chapter 5 The ‘Masterpieces’ Exhibition
- pp. 25-252
- Bibliography
- pp. 265-275
- Sources of Illustrations
- p. 276
- Sources of Masterpieces
- p. 277
- Index of Masterpieces
- pp. 278-279
- General Index
- pp. 280-286
Additional Information
ISBN
9780824860493
Related ISBN(s)
9780824831516
MARC Record
OCLC
794700657
Launched on MUSE
2012-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No