Living through Art and Craft - The Papua New Guinea Way

Papua New Guinea art and crafts designs are made locally by talented men and women who have no formal education. Most of these folks live in the villages in some of the remote parts of Papua New Guinea. Because there is lack of transportation, some of these men and women walk 2 - 3 days to sell their bags (bilums), crafts, and carvings. The number of craftsmen and women who spend time in using their talents is overwhelming but there are no proper markets. Some of them get lucky when they reach a nearby town or airport to sell their products but others aren’t so lucky. In a month or so, they make less than sixty kina ($20).
Below are some of the bags (bilums), hats, necklaces, and carvings most women and men in the remote parts of Papua New Guinea make to support their families as a form of income. Some of these pictures were taken at Kagamuga Airport in Mount Hagen, WHP by David Ketepa during his recent trip to Papua New Guinea.

One of the motives of writing this blog is also to expose the activities in the villages of Papua New Guinea to help the disfranchise and the underprivileged so that they can be part of the community through community-based activities. The activities involved in this regard doesn't happen in Mount Hagen, Western Highlands Province in Papua New Guinea but rather throughout the country especially in the most remote parts of Papua New Guinea.

I have spent the last 27 years in Papua New Guinea and six years in the United States. Growing up in some of the remote parts of Papua New Guinea, I've seen people enduring the agony of trying to sell their produce as well as their art and craft handiwork at a proper market. Therefore, having this information on my blog might interest others around the world to help assist these womenfolk as well as to help them expose their hidden talents. Most of the work done by these women are for church, fellowship, and non-governmental organizations to enhance their community based activities

However, the most obvious hindrance in selling their produce and the art and craft work is a proper market niche and therefore this information is a mechanism for a possible an awareness campaign that indeed there are magnificent art and crafts throughout the corners of Papa New Guinea. All profits generated through the sale of all these art is used to sustain a family or put back to the rural communities in Papua New Guinea to boost their self-reliance projects.

Today bilums are custom-designed to be worn in any formal setting. Bilums will always be useful in these areas but they have over years changed their shapes, colors, designs and uses. Thanks to creative, innovative and talented weavers the bilum has broken out of the domestic domain now turning heads and catching the eye at formal gatherings in the form of bilum wear. Now one can turn up at their graduation looking stunning and feeling great in an outstanding bilum outfit. The outfit can include head-wear, armbands and scarves. Bilum wear is definitely setting a trend.Groups of young women at a number of formal gatherings in the Highlands have been attention grabbers with their bilum wear outfits.

(Grade 10 and 12 girls graduands at Yaweh Moses Secondary School in Chuave district Chimbu province in their bilum outfits, sitting is Senior Teacher Philip Launa Source: The National News -06)

The outfits are cost saving for parents and guardians who otherwise would have struggled to buy graduation gowns and outfits from shops. "I am very proud of my own child who graduated wearing a bilum outfit I produced with my own hands," said Martha Kon whose daughter graduated from the Goroka Secondary School last month. She said this added significance and meaning to all the years she had worked to find money to educate her daughter.Grade 10 and 12 girls that graduated from the Yaweh Moses secondary school in Chimbu province last week were a sight to behold in different coloured bilum outfits. The school’s senior teacher Philip Launa applauded the girls for promoting a new product. "Your bilum outfits makes this graduation very special, it creates an atmosphere of a new product on the market," he said. (Source: The National)


(Young lady in her bilum (string bag ) outfit)

The traditional skills and art of bilum making have developed as weavers adapted new styles and methods to produce these outfits. The creations obviously bring in more income for the weaver. At the moment there is no specific outlet producing bilum outfits on a large scale. However women groups in Eastern Highlands and Chimbu province will produce bilum outfits upon requests and orders from interested individuals and groups. The outfits are made according to the customers' needs.


On average it would take about K50 ($17) worth of wool to make an outfit. For groups there could be a standard cost not exceeding K200 ($75) but for an individual order the rate varies excluding the wool costs. One can negotiate with a weaver on style and price. Individuals and women’s groups who weave bilums are making the most of this new fashion trend which is booming in the Highlands and Momase regions. It’s an opportunity to increase earnings, enhance their skills and venture into a new marketing and business arena. According to the wearers bilum outfits are cool, flexible and comfortable. Bilum outfits currently available on the market are skirts, shirts, dresses, over coats and men’s trousers.



(Baskets made from bush vines/canes were on sale at Kagamuga Airport, Mount Hagen, WHP)

Lack of proper markets prevent women and men alike from selling their art and crafts. The pictures above depicts women and women selling their handiwork near the streets of Kagamuga Airport, Mount Hagen, WHP). Selling bilums on the streets is prevalent in most parts of Papua New Guinea as ninty-nine point nine percent (99.9%) of what is being produced via handiwork is sold on the streets.

The formerly German, British, and Australian-controlled territory officially recognized its flag on March 11, 1971, and flag usage was extended to ships at independence (Sept. 16, 1975). The colors red and black are shown extensively in local art and clothing. Featured emblems are a bird of paradise and the Southern Cross constellation. The above picture of a bilum depicts the true colors of Papua New Guinea.

*** So, come on! Over to Papua New Guinea and check it out :)

o