Maris Memenga

Country/Region: Papua New Guinea (view other artists)

Village: Wang Village, Tabar Islands

Maris Memenga was born in Wang Village on Tatau Island, one of the Tabar Islands situated in the Bismarck Sea lying to the east of New Ireland. This area is of particular importance as the birthplace of the elaborate cycle of ceremonies known as Malagan.

The images for these works often originate in dreams and they are the property of the dreamer unless he decides to offer them to someone else. Malagans are carved to honour the memory of those who have died and are displayed on a grass covered wall in a special enclosure erected for the occasion.

In New Ireland the authority to carve is given when a child is very young and the right is hereditary. Maris is highly respected by his peers as a carver of contemporary malagans and his works can be found in
collections in Australia, the USA and Canada.

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