John Siune was born in Kapank village, in the Papua New Guinea Highlands, and moved to Port Moresby as a young man in 1982, where he trained as a picture framer. In this environment he was introduced to works by fellow Chimbu artist Mathias Kauage, to whom he was related by marriage. In 1989, Siune started painting subjects and in a style deeply influenced by Kauage and the artists working around him. In each of Siune’s paintings we see the same high-key palette and bold use of irony – to offer sophisticated commentary on contemporary life, society and politics – that are a hallmark of Kauage’s work.

The works of Chimbu artist Simon Gende demonstrate an equally significant debt to Kauage. Although Gende is based in Goroka rather than Port Moresby, he is from the same clan as Kauage, and speaks warmly about the encouragement he was offered by the elder artist. Painted with Kauage’s signature use of bold colour and black outlines, but with a touching personal story, Gende’s Postcard from Kawagle Mathias 2018 documents a time when he received a postcard from Kauage, who was travelling overseas. This card was scrawled with text congratulating Gende on his work and urging him to keep going, a gesture that brought the younger artist to tears.