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‘No. 1 Neighbour’
Art in Papua New Guinea 1966–2016
Oct 2016 - Jan 2017

A view of works installed for 'No. 1 Neighbour', QAG, October 2016 / © The artists / Photograph: N Harth, QAGOMA

'No. 1 Neighbour: Art in Papua New Guinea 1966–2016' presents work by artists from Papua New Guinea created from the mid-1960s, through Independence in 1975, until today. The exhibition focuses on the vibrancy of contemporary artistic expression, a direction that is unique in Australia. A key conceptual thread within 'No.1 Neighbour' is the importance of the ongoing relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea with projects profiling ongoing creative relationships between communities and individuals.

In this resource, find out more about works from the QAGOMA Collection featured in the exhibition, or explore the full exhibition catalogue in the QAGOMA Research Library. 


'No. 1 Neighbour' is supported by the Gordon Darling Foundation and through the Australian Government through the Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Feature image: A view of works installed for 'No. 1 Neighbour', QAG, October 2016 / © The artists / Photograph: N Harth, QAGOMA

Collection artworks featured in ‘No. 1 Neighbour’

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Bilum (bag) 2004

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Coffee Industry Corporation c.2012

Artwork Cooking pot this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with incised decoration and beeswax, created in 1997-01-01

Cooking pot 1997

Artwork Water storage pot - woman's face this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with incised decoration and beeswax, created in 2013-01-01

Water storage pot - woman's face 2013

Artwork Cooking pot this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with applied decoration and beeswax, created in 2015-01-01

Cooking pot 2015

Artwork Two-mouthed water storage pot (Yayob Village, Madang) this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with applied decoration and beeswax, created in 2016-01-01

Two-mouthed water storage pot (Yayob Village, Madang) 2016

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Orokolo 1968

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Orokolo 2 1968

Artwork Beroana (shell money) II this artwork made of Porcelain, stoneware, earthenware, clear glaze, steel wire, created in 2016-01-01

Beroana (shell money) II 2016

Artwork Mary this artwork made of Tokatokoi, headdress: wood, feathers, plastic Virgin Mary figurine, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Mary 2011

Artwork Mary this artwork made of Tokatokoi, headdress: wood, feathers, plastic Virgin Mary figurine, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Mary 2011

Artwork Kulinginbu (garamut drum) this artwork made of Carved garamut wood, created in 2003-01-01

Kulinginbu (garamut drum) 2003

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Untitled (dancing woman and bird) 1969

Artwork Barrasut man (Parachutist) this artwork made of Screenprint on paper, created in 1977-01-01

Barrasut man (Parachutist) 1977

Artwork Whoen kwat (king post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on carved blackbutt, created in 2012-01-01

Whoen kwat (king post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" 2012

Artwork Yambi kwat (support post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on carved blackbutt, created in 2012-01-01

Yambi kwat (support post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" 2012

Artwork Warangei (decorative edging) from "Koromb (spirit house)" this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on plywood, created in 2012-01-01

Warangei (decorative edging) from "Koromb (spirit house)" 2012

Artwork Bilas (ornamentation) from "Koromb (spirit house)" this artwork made of Kunda (chains): woven cane; tambuwan (ancestor mask decorations): canvas, synthetic polymer paint, cane, polystyrene balls and raffia, created in 2012-01-01

Bilas (ornamentation) from "Koromb (spirit house)" 2012

Artwork Odunege 4 (Jungle vines 4) this artwork made of Natural pigments on barkcloth, created in 2006-01-01

Odunege 4 (Jungle vines 4) 2006

Artwork John Efesus this artwork made of Bilum: looped commercial yarns, created in 2011-01-01

John Efesus 2011

Artwork Wain and his followers this artwork made of Screenprint on paper, created in 1973-01-01

Wain and his followers c.1974

Artwork Ramu sugar this artwork made of Bilum: looped commercial yarns, created in 2011-01-01

Ramu sugar 2011

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Kavat mask 1971

Artwork Tokatokoi this artwork made of Headdress: wood, feathers, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Tokatokoi 2011

Artwork Tokatokoi this artwork made of Headdress: wood, feathers, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Tokatokoi 2011

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Mermaid c.2012

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Miss yu love c.2012

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

PNG flag c.2012

Artwork Trukai this artwork made of Bilum: looped commercial yarns, created in 2011-01-01

Trukai 2011

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Bitangoa, Goroka, Lahanis 2011

Artwork No 1 Kiap blong Australia Mr Jim Taylor I brukim bush long Highlands Papua Niugini (The first Australian Officer, Mr Jim Taylor, in an exploratory mission in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea) this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, created in 1999-01-01

No 1 Kiap blong Australia Mr Jim Taylor I brukim bush long Highlands Papua Niugini (The first Australian Officer, Mr Jim Taylor, in an exploratory mission in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea) 1999

Artwork Circumcision ceremony drinking bowl this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with incised decoration and beeswax, created in 2001-01-01

Circumcision ceremony drinking bowl 2001

Artwork Water storage pot - woman's face this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with applied decoration and natural wax, created in 2009-01-01

Water storage pot - woman's face 2009

Artwork Three-mouthed water storage pot (Manus) this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with applied decoration and beeswax, created in 2016-01-01

Three-mouthed water storage pot (Manus) 2016

Artwork Puk puk (crocodile) this artwork made of Woven gumba tree fibre with natural pigments, created in 2011-01-01

Puk puk (crocodile) 2011

Artwork Mary this artwork made of Tokatokoi, headdress: wood, feathers, plastic Virgin Mary figurine, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Mary 2011

Artwork Mary this artwork made of Tokatokoi, headdress: wood, feathers, plastic Virgin Mary figurine, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Mary 2011

Artwork Kalibobo this artwork made of Bilum-wear: hand-twisted and looped polyester wool mix fibre with commercial dyes, created in 2010-01-01

Kalibobo 2010

Artwork Palingawi (Freshwater crocodile) this artwork made of Mask: woven split cane with cowrie shells and natural ochres, cordyline leaves, grass fibres, created in 2011-01-01

Palingawi (Freshwater crocodile) 2011

Artwork Marbles this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on canvas, created in 1988-01-01

Marbles 1988

Artwork Kamba nager (support post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on carved blackbutt, created in 2012-01-01

Kamba nager (support post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" 2012

Artwork Showp kwat (support post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on carved blackbutt, created in 2012-01-01

Showp kwat (support post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" 2012

Artwork Bi (ceiling paintings) from "Koromb (spirit house)" this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on plywood, created in 2012-01-01

Bi (ceiling paintings) from "Koromb (spirit house)" 2012

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Bilum (bag) 2004

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Ancestor figures c.1974

Artwork Rarapka this artwork made of Mandas mask: barkcloth, cane, bamboo, natural pigments, created in 2011-01-01

Rarapka 2011

Artwork Birds this artwork made of Screenprint on paper, created in 1973-01-01

Birds c.1974

Artwork Mopul, Wain and his wife Yiripi this artwork made of Screenprint on paper, created in 1973-01-01

Mopul, Wain and his wife Yiripi c.1974

Artwork Boi pren na girl Pren Tupela I stap long Port Morsbi city. Tupela lusim pasin bilong ples na kisim pasin bilong wait man (Boyfriend and girlfriend live in Port Moresby city. They leave traditional ways behind and take on whiteman style) this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on yellow medium weight cardboard, created in 1999-01-01

Boi pren na girl Pren Tupela I stap long Port Morsbi city. Tupela lusim pasin bilong ples na kisim pasin bilong wait man (Boyfriend and girlfriend live in Port Moresby city. They leave traditional ways behind and take on whiteman style) 1999

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Moto bagarap (Motor crash) 1968

Artwork BSP this artwork made of Bilum: looped commercial yarns, created in 2011-01-01

BSP 2011

Artwork Tokatokoi this artwork made of Headdress: wood, feathers, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Tokatokoi 2011

Artwork Tokatokoi this artwork made of Headdress: wood, feathers, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Tokatokoi 2011

Artwork Guaramgi nimenenga (male and female spires) this artwork made of Mandas mask: barkcloth, cane, bamboo, natural and synthetic pigments, natural fibres, feathers, created in 2011-01-01

Guaramgi nimenenga (male and female spires) 2011

Artwork Leadership tussle in Australia: Rudd v Gillard this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on cloth, created in 2012-01-01

Leadership tussle in Australia: Rudd v Gillard 2012

Artwork Cooking pot with bat handles this artwork made of Hand-built earthenware with applied decoration and beeswax, created in 1997-01-01

Cooking pot with bat handles 1997

Artwork Water storage pot - man's face this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with incised decoration and beeswax, created in 2013-01-01

Water storage pot - man's face 2013

Artwork Cooking pot with bat handles this artwork made of Hand-thrown earthenware with applied decoration and beeswax, created in 2015-01-01

Cooking pot with bat handles 2015

Artwork Best foot forward this artwork made of Single-channel HD video projection: 2:26 minutes, looped, colour, sound, created in 2011-01-01

Best foot forward 2011

Artwork Mary this artwork made of Tokatokoi, headdress: wood, feathers, plastic Virgin Mary figurine, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Mary 2011

Artwork Mary this artwork made of Tokatokoi, headdress: wood, feathers, plastic Virgin Mary figurine, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Mary 2011

Artwork Our Beer SP this artwork made of Bilum: looped commercial yarns, created in 2011-01-01

Our Beer SP 2011

Artwork Mabutgawi (Saltwater crocodile) this artwork made of Mask: woven split cane with cowrie shells and natural ochres, cordyline leaves, grass fibres, created in 2011-01-01

Mabutgawi (Saltwater crocodile) 2011

Artwork Man daravim elikopta (Man flying a helicopter) this artwork made of Screenprint on smooth wove paper, created in 1975-01-01

Man daravim elikopta (Man flying a helicopter) c.1980

Artwork Mes kwat (support post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on carved blackbutt, created in 2012-01-01

Mes kwat (support post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" 2012

Artwork Nunda kwat (king post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on carved blackbutt, created in 2012-01-01

Nunda kwat (king post) from "Koromb (spirit house)" 2012

Artwork Bi (ceiling paintings) from "Koromb (spirit house)" this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on plywood, created in 2012-01-01

Bi (ceiling paintings) from "Koromb (spirit house)" 2012

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Lupa 1976

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Kavat mask 1978

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Vanis mask c.1994

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Bilum (bag) 2004

Artwork Boroko Motors this artwork made of Bilum: looped commercial yarns, created in 2011-01-01

Boroko Motors 2011

Artwork Mopul with two female followers this artwork made of Screenprint on paper, created in 1973-01-01

Mopul with two female followers c.1974

Artwork Konyim and Deman spirits this artwork made of Screenprint on paper, created in 1973-01-01

Konyim and Deman spirits c.1974

Artwork Bikpela pait istap yet long Bougainvil. Helekopt kisim PNG sikereti fos 190 long pait nadpait wantim BRA. Na EMTV man kisim camera igo wantim long helekopta na kisim piksa insait long pait. (There is still a war going on in Bougainville. The helicopter i this artwork made of Synthetic polymer paint on paper, created in 1995-01-01

Bikpela pait istap yet long Bougainvil. Helekopt kisim PNG sikereti fos 190 long pait nadpait wantim BRA. Na EMTV man kisim camera igo wantim long helekopta na kisim piksa insait long pait. (There is still a war going on in Bougainville. The helicopter i 1995

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Accident 1968

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Helicopter 1968

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Moto bagarap (Motor crash) 1968

Artwork has not been digitised or not available due to pending copyright clearence, thus not currently available online

Kavat mask 1971

Artwork Sihae 1 (Sahote clan design of fruit from the tree 1) this artwork made of Natural pigments on barkcloth, created in 2006-01-01

Sihae 1 (Sahote clan design of fruit from the tree 1) 2006

Artwork Tokatokoi this artwork made of Headdress: wood, feathers, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Tokatokoi 2011

Artwork Tokatokoi this artwork made of Headdress: wood, feathers, synthetic polymer paint, grass fibre, created in 2011-01-01

Tokatokoi 2011