Skull Art in Papua New Guinea

Produced by Sabine Jell-Bahlsen. 28 min. Color. 2000. Available as: VHS and DVD Captioned: No Catalog #: 0066 Order this title Sale Price: $195.00 Apply for Discount

This remarkable video documents the complete process of skull art in Papua New Guinea, as demonstrated by a master practitioner, Adam Kone. Historically, skull art is associated with tribal warfare and headhunting, which were banned by the colonial administration in the 1920s and are outlawed in modern independent Papua New Guinea.

Because of its association with banned practices, skull art has become rare and is carried out in secrecy. In this video, Adam works on a painted skull purchased from a trader. The skull is poorly decorated, so Adam molds and paints a more elaborate skull-portrait, utilizing a variety of unexpected and ingenious modern materials.

In Adam's home on the Sepik, decorating skulls is a prominent, highly developed form of body art. A skull-portrait commemorates an initiate's first kill, a great warrior, a fierce enemy, or an extraordinary or beautiful person. The portrait honors the deceased person -- friend or foe -- and is held in high esteem.

This detailed and provocative documentary will stimulate discussion in any course that considers culture change and the blending of the traditional with the modern, including classes in cultural anthropology, Asian and Pacific Island studies, and ethnic and tribal art. It was produced by the noted anthropological filmmaker, Dr. Sabine Jell-Bahlsen.

Reviews

"A wonderful work for use in ethnic studies and cultural anthropology courses. The film serves as an important bridge between what was and what is now. It celebrates not only diversity but also and importantly the variety of human endeavors to interpret life and existence. Most cultures have and preserve similar material and physical symbols of male dexterity and valor." -- Michael Mbabuike, Prof. and Chair, Africana Studies/Humanities Dept., City University of New York

"The video complemented my lectures by demonstrating how ideas and practices current in the recent past still color attitudes in New Guinea today, even when this aspect of indigenous culture is banned. The video is also valuable for showing students how traditional techniques can be updated successfully by using modern materials." -- Richard Sundt, Prof. of Art History, Univ. of Oregon

"Skull art can be seen as the underpinning to 20th-century art in its attention to texture and irregularities within symmetrics and sophisticated patternings, and because of long-ago recognized endless resources of skull art and mask sculpture." -- Prof. Magda Vasillov, Coordinator of Visual and Performing Arts, Humanities Dept., Hostos Community College of CUNY

"All art students should see this powerful and moving video. Adam's rhythm, pace, and singing while working intensely on this skull is unforgettable." -- Mary Frank, Artist and Member, American Academy of Arts and Letters

Awards

• American Anthropological Assn. selection
• Society for Visual Anthropology selection
• Assn. for Asian Studies honoree