No gallery for fine art in PNG

More Papua New Guineans are buying local artwork, and artists say it’s the result of growing appreciation and national awareness of domestic art. 

PNG artist Albert Joseph said cultural pride was attracting buyers. 

“Many of them are professional people, they are seeing the value in our culture … some of them tell me it gives them peace,” he said.

Despite this, Joseph said artists in Papua New Guinea were struggling because no gallery exists for fine art.

“We don’t have a permanent space,” he said.

“We have a museum, which keeps cultural items … it’s art, but it’s not fine art.”