Bold colour, dynamic pattern and vertiginous scale characterise the masks created by artists from the New Britain and Sepik regions of Papua New Guinea. Accompanied by the rousing rhythms of drums, a chorus of chanting voices and the heady scent of flowers and leaves, the performance of these objects is designed to engage both audiences and ancestral spirits. These performances are believed to assist in resolving communal conflicts and influencing social processes, from the transition of life to death, to the abundant growth of crops, to even the success of a local business venture. Created by men, many of the masks and headdresses featured in APT7 are customarily ephemeral, either because of their organic materials or because they are intended for use on only one occasion. Directly associated with powerful spirit beings or forces, the masks created by the Baining and Sulka people, when used in performance, evoke the potency of these beings and are usually destroyed after they have served their ritual purpose.

The participation of Papua New Guinean artists in APT7 is generously supported by Kramer Ausenco.