The 2019 Oceanic Art Society Forum was an intellectual and emotional odyssey. Oceanic art represents and encompasses many things: sublime beauty and irresistible mystery; cultural treasure; markers of colonial dispossession and loss, but also continuity and hope. That indeed is what Oceanic art … [Read more...]
Stories from all OAS Journal Volumes
Melanesian art: redux
By Natalie Wilson, Curator Australian & Pacific Art, Art Gallery of New South Wales In November, the Art Gallery of New South Wales will celebrate the life and art of its former deputy director, Tony Tuckson, with the exhibition Tony Tuckson: the abstract sublime. In his role as curator, … [Read more...]
Interview: Crispin Howarth on Maori Markings: Ta Mokoat the NGA
Jim Elmslie interviews Crispin Howarth, Curator of Pacific Arts at the National Gallery of Australia on the stunning new exhibition of Maori facial markings that will open in Canberra on March 23 JE Crispin, you have been working on the forthcoming exhibition on Māori tattooing (I … [Read more...]
A Successful Year – President’s Report on 2018
The Oceanic Art Society’s Annual General Meeting was held on 10th November at the Middle Harbour 16ft Skiff Club, Mosman NSW - a lovely venue on a sunny day. Twenty-one members were present, with apologies from three more. After the formalities, the President, Bill Rathmell, provided a brief … [Read more...]
New Guinea: What I Did and What I Saw
by Barry Craig My first experience of New Guinea was at Telefomin 1962-1965. I had graduated with a degree in Social Anthropology at University of Sydney 1960, gained a Diploma of Education 1961 and signed up as an Education Officer with the Department of Territories administration in Papua New … [Read more...]
A Short History of the Tribal Art Market
by Antony JP Meyer It all began with the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus in 1492 at the very end of the 15th century when he met with the Täino culture of Haiti and Santo Domingo, although by the middle of the 15th century the Portuguese were already trading with Africa and the … [Read more...]
Masterpieces of Oceanic Art from the Todd Barlin Collection during OAS Forum February 2019
by Todd Barlin A passion for collecting over 40 years will showcase not only Oceanic Art but also Artworks from SE Asia, Tibet and Japan. The small group tours will be on the day before the OAS Forum on 31 January 2019. I will give two small group private tours of my collection at 2pm […]To … [Read more...]
Oceania: Royal Academy of Arts, London, 29 September to 10 December 2018
by Michael Martin The Royal Academy in London is holding a major exhibition of the art of the Pacific from the 29th September to the 10th December 2018. Entitled “Oceania”, it is the first major exhibition of its type to ever be held in London and marks the 250th anniversary of the … [Read more...]
The Elizabeth Pryce Collection on Centre Stage in Paris
Elizabeth (Beth) Pryce is well known to Oceanic art lovers throughout Australia and around the world. A founding member of the OAS and inaugural Secretary, Elizabeth is one of the select few to have received the distinction of being made an Honorary Life Member of the OAS in return for her many … [Read more...]
The Art of Collecting
By Jim Elmslie Oceanic Art means different things to different people. Made by indigenous peoples for traditional cultural and utilitarian practice, artefacts are now prized by many people far removed from their geographical origins. Just why this is so is sometimes hard to fathom. In the last … [Read more...]
