Living Arts and Living Archives
In line with the theme of the articles in this edition, the Oceanic Art Society is also changing. A new and free full digital subscription for everyone Under 30 has been launched.
OAC Journal Cover Stories
Exploring Objects and Stories of Oceania
The 50th anniversary of independence of Papua New Guinea has been a great opportunity for Australians to really engage with PNG art both traditional and modern. This theme was at …
Global research and displays
What a wonderful time we have had with community and institutional events to mark the 50th anniversary of independence of Papua New Guinea. As I write this, we are looking …
Papua New Guinea Art: Past, Present and Future
As we prepare for the 50th anniversary of independence of Papua New Guinea, this edition of the Journal focuses on this important milestone in the history of Australia’s nearest neighbour …
Art, Creativity and Future Directions
As always, a trip to the APT XI at QAGOMA in Brisbane didn’t disappoint. One highlight was the detailed carved sculptures in the renowned Ātiawa style by Māori sculptor Brett …
Ka ‘Ula Wena: Oceanic Red
I am fortunate to be given the catalogue to the groundbreaking exhibition Ka ‘Ula Wena: Oceanic Red, which was held from 25 May 2024 until 12 January 2025 at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu.
What is Modern Art of the Pacific?
Recent months have seen Oceanic art enthusiasts gathered for two art fairs in Paris in September and Sydney in October. By all accounts, there was great enthusiasm and artworks. In …
From kastom objects to Pacific art
In early August we gathered for the Oceanic Art Society’s 2024 Forum at the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney. This brought a rich and diverse set of presenters into one of the best contemporary museum spaces in Australia.
Who tells what Oceanic art stories?
A former colleague recently shared her five communications tips - question the news value; know the audience; highlight the lead; feature people, not objects; and create visual elements - which led me to thinking about this Journal.
Research and Discoveries
This edition sees the publication of a major article by Senior Curator of Anthropology at the South Australian Museum, Philip Jones, extending his lecture at the 2022 OAS Forum held …
Oceanic Art experiences
Image Caption: Speakers at the 2023 OAS Forum in Melbourne. Image: Margaret Cassidy. Australian members have experienced a rich range of Oceanic Art experiences in recent months. A major highlight was …
Through new eyes, Pacific pasts revisited
This edition of the Journal continues to share the rich information received at the highly successful 2022 OAS Forum held in the Pacific Galleries at the South Australian Museum.
Modern encounters with the past
Living in Sydney we are in a year of magnificent Oceanic art exhibitions. It is a great time to be developing a greater understanding and hence appreciation of Oceanic art …
Transformation and Understanding
Developing a greater understanding and hence appreciation of Oceanic art is surely the aspiration of all readers of this Journal. The place from which each reader and viewer commences this voyage …
Curiosity about the Pacific
Oceanic art and objects have travelled the world from the “Blue Continent”. Along the way they have been traded and stories about them have embellished their reputations and attracted new …
Personal encounters with objects
Creators, curators, collectors, students, visitors, audiences all have encounters with cultural objects both old and new. The new can be a celebration of the old or it can be a …
Touchstones of Culture
Some cultural artefacts or events become touchstones of a culture. The elaborate masks prepared for participation in the Fire Dance Ceremonies of the Central Baining in East New Britain, Papua …
Personal Encounters
Personal experiences and personal passions are a common theme in this edition. Everyone who attended his fascinating lecture for the Oceanic Art Society in October 2021, would be aware of …
At the intersection of ancient and contemporary
This edition of the Journal includes articles about the early encounters between European missionaries and Aboriginal Australians in Central Australia and European anthropologists and people from the Torres Strait and …
The Agile Art World
Being agile and pivoting are words long associated with innovation and the tech world. However, they are now commonly being used in the art world to describe the quick responses …
Diverse Studies of Individual Oceanic Art Objects
Oceanic art can be studied from a number of angles. This art can be approached from an anthropological or ethnographic aspect and from the perspective of art history or visual …
New places, new ways of engaging across cultures
The summer of 2020-2021 has seen the opening of some significant new or renovated/expanded museums from the east to the west coast in Australia. Those of us in Sydney have …
25 years of the OAS
Photo Caption: The 2012 OAS Forum at the SA Museum. Photo by Michelle Haywood. 2020 is a very significant milestone in the history of the Oceanic Art Society. As is outlined …
Oceanic art market in the time of COVID
This edition of the Journal features Barry Craig’s account of the Pacific collection at the new Wantok Place Museum in North Adelaide as well as Jim Elmslie’s story behind the recent sales with remarkable provenance of works from the Hermannsburg school in Central Australia. We’ve introduced a new feature, the President’s Corner, where Bill Rathmell interviewed Nick Mitzevich, Director of the National Gallery of Australia, following news reports of the deaccession of Pacific pieces from the collection.