Australian Museum exhibits PNG-inspired work by Wylda Bayron

Bilas: Body Adornment of Papua New Guinea at the Australian Museum in Sydney features rare, never-displayed cultural objects from the museum's Pacific collection, dramatic photography, natural history specimens and 33 pieces of newly acquired body adornment from three PNG cultural groups.

Among the new Melanesian works acquired are the first examples of Maring/Kalam glong headdresses, enga wigs (made of human hair) and Kagua district wicker helmets and body masks.

The museum's head of Pacific Collections, Melissa Malu, said the collection is rated as one of the most significant in the world, featuring more than 60,000 objects.

Many of the the artefacts were gathered during first contact between European and local communities in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

US-based Puerto Rican photographer Wylda Bayron said her photographs are a result of a decades-long journey into the heart of a country whose communities welcomed her and shared their culture.

"The peoples of Papua New Guinea are the curators of these images, and it is their cultures, traditions and customs that are being shared," Bayron said.

The museum is at 1 William Street, Sydney NSW 2010. The exhibition closes on October 8, 2023. Entry is free.

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