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.

People under 30 years of age can register for free to gain full access to the OAS archives and past editions from over 30 years of this Journal; receive invitations to OAS events including lectures, fairs and Forums, and attend the annual AGM (although they do not have voting rights reserved to Members.)

This is a wonderful way for anyone from anywhere in the world, to explore the Society and access its extensive trove of research and analysis of all aspects of Oceanic art produced over the last 30 years. Please help us to get the word out to young art lovers, artists and scholars.

This edition presents some material from the OAS’s XIII forum held in Canberra in November 2025; more will follow in subsequent issues. With a focus on PNG art, Anna Edmundson writes about the projects undertaken by the National Archives of Australia to connect their collections with PNG communities both in Australia and overseas with a focus on the preservation and digitisation of the F.E. Williams photographic collection.

Judy Robinson continues presenting her tiki research with an examination of some applications in architecture including at the modern Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Bill Rathmell introduces us to the wonder of the Austronesian Hall at the National Museum of Prehistory in Taiwan and Susan Cochrane’s Living Art Papua New Guinea is reviewed.

We are also starting a new section profiling some of our members. Meet Roger Byard.

Margaret Cassidy