Drawing

The Chachet Baining peoples live in the northwest mountains of the Gazelle Peninsula. This original drawing is one of a series of eleven by the Chachet Baining artist Marmgi from Walmetki village, East New Britain, PNG. They are dynamic drawings on paper that feature a range of complex iconography executed in black and red pigment on a natural background in a reverse painting style. Each drawing illustrates iconography that relates to important clan designs used on various art forms including the lengths of barkcloth that are incorporated into composite helmet masks and/or side panels for composite helmet masks and used in day and night time ritual masking ceremonies. They complement a suite of important Baining masks, currently on display in our principal Oceania gallery, and works in other media that are part of this comprehensive gift from the donosr, George and Sarah Corbin. George Corbin carried out extensive fieldwork in East New Britain, PNG in 1972–3 and 1982–3.