Melanesia project
Visitors to the collection
Samuel Luguna 2006
The Melanesia Project brought Samuel Luguna, an artist from the
Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, to the British Museum between
7 May and 31 May 2006.
As a result of viewing the collection, Mr. Luguna painted two
works, both acrylic on canvas.
The subject of the paintings furthers his interest in the shell
ornaments which are culturally significant in his home province.
One of his paintings was donated to the British Museum.
Ralph Re
genvanu 2006
The Melanesia Project brought Ralph Regenvanu, an artist from
Malekula, Vanuatu to the British Museum between 8 May and 26 May
2006.
He produced one painting and in a statement about his work
emphasized the location of objects outside of Vanuatu as something
that was of cultural importance.
Mr. Regenvanu made a film about his trip to the British Museum
for the Vanuatu Cultural Centre and this will be made available to
the project for research purposes. He was the subject of a film
interview
with the BBC.
His Grace, the Rev. Ikan Rove KBE of New Georgia, Solomon
Islands 2005
On 17 October 2005 the Melanesia Project welcomed His
Grace, the Rev. Ikan Rove KBE, Spiritual Authority of the Christian
Fellowship Church of Western Province, Solomon Islands, a leading
figure in the economic and cultural development of the province.
Rev. Rove was in London to receive a knighthood for services to his
country and was accompanied by his wife, secretary and
children.
The visit was organised by Professor Hviding of Bergen
University, who has worked extensively with Rev. Rove. The visiting
party, nine persons in all, were shown a selection of the large and
important collection of Western Solomon Islands artefacts, dating
to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. T
he visit was filmed by Prof. Hviding and copies will be made
available to the Melanesia Project.
Images (from top):
- A painting, untitled, by
Samuel Luguna completed in March 2006. It depicts two
armbands (mwali) and one necklace (soulava) which
form the central items of exchange in the Trobriand Islands. The objects in
the British Museum collection date to the 1800s and continue to be
important items today
- The Melanesia Project,
painted by Ralph Regenvanu completed in May 2006
- His Grace, the Rev. Ikan Rove KBE
of New Georgia, Solomon Islands, with Professor Edvard
Hviding, University of Bergen, at the British Museum in
October 2005. Photo: Liz Bonshek