Photo exhibition to open today

Caption:   (L) David Kirkland and Dr Simet pose with photo exhibits.

By MATTHEW VARI

Wednesday, July 2, 2014 (Midweek Chronicle, PNG)

COINCIDING with the 5th Melanesian Arts and Culture festival, the PNG Tourism Promotion Authority (TPA) and the National Museum Art Gallery will officially open a photo exhibition today at the Museum, with photos from world renowned international travel and tourism photographer David Kirkland.

With over 20 years experience taking photographs of Papua New Guinea, Mr Kirkland has assembled 24 of his best shots he has taken over the past 10 years of the various unique cultures of PNG, for the ‘Tribal Melanesia exhibition’.

“It is a privilege for me to here to exhibit some of the photographs we have taken over my time taking pictures from the Tourism Promotion Authority,” he said.

“These photographs represent a small portion of a large body of work that we have collected to promote Papua New Guinea as an adventure destination worldwide.”

Speaking at a conference on Monday Mr Kirkland said the purpose of the exhibition was not only to promote the diverse cultures of the country but was also a reminder of its vulnerability.

“The big message in this exhibition I am trying to say is that traditional culture is both valuable and vulnerable at the same time and we should all be doing more to preserve it,” he said.

“In the last 20 years I have seen a lot of change in Papua New Guinea, and many countries in the world.”

“It is a concern for me that there is not enough attention being placed on the disappearing cultures.”

He said that he held the festival in high regard as one of the greatest showcases on earth for traditional culture.

“I am worried that the oral histories and the arts are not being passed as they used to be to the younger generation,” Kirkland said.

“In our rush to embrace economic and social imperatives we are losing sight of the very things that make us unique and differentiate us from the other cultures of the world.”

National Cultural Commission Acting Executive Director Dr Jacob Simet agreed with Kirkland’s observation in the dangers associated with the loss of culture, but also hailed his work as a celebration of it as well.

“This is one of a number of things we are doing in the festival, which is to exhibit our culture up close- with painting, film, and sculpting exhibitions,” Dr Simet said.

“And the work David has here before us is like looking at Melanesia through the tourist’s eyes.”

“Ultimately the Tribal Melanesia photo exhibition captures the festival and will be officially opened today.”