The art of love and war: Masks and objects used for fertility, initiation and battle from Papua New Guinea's highlands take centre stage at a new exhibition
Date Published: 6/20/14
Author: Lillian Rodulova
This article covers the great history of Papua New Guinea's use of their trademark masks. Those masks were used for several reasons including; battles, fertility, and initiation. Each mask has its own purpose. Throughout the history of Papua New Guinea, these masks were used for different tribes, and when they want to war with each other, they would wear their own battle mask in combat. Now several masks are now being transferred to a museum where they will be safely kept and to show tourists the amazing art of these masks.
I am quite amazed at the quality and detail of these masks. Also, I am shocked that each mask would have its own purpose like battling or making love. The masks of Papua New Guinea are quite amazing to me and I wish that I could own at least one of them. To have been around for so long and still be intact is astounding. The tribes of Papua New Guinea who wore these masks have quite an interesting culture with these masks.
The masks of Papua New Guinea are a very important part of its culture. With the masks on, rituals, battles, etc, are taken place. With each mask having its own purpose, the culture of Papua New Guinea relies heavily on its homemade masks that could have been intact for hundreds of years.