Drawing
The Kairak Baining peoples live in the central mountains of the Gazelle peninsula, East New Britain, PNG. This original drawing is by Kairak Baining artist William Malka. It is a dynamic drawing on paper that features a range of complex iconography executed in black and red pigment on a natural background in a reverse painting style. The 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. It complements 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 George and Sarah Corbin. George Corbin carried out extensive fieldwork in East New Britain, PNG in 1972–3 and 1982–3.
Artwork Details
- Title: Drawing
- Artist: William Malka
- Date: 1972–1973
- Geography: Papua New Guinea, New Britain, East New Britain, Malabunga village
- Culture: Kairak Baining people
- Medium: Paper, pigment
- Dimensions: H. 7 × W. 9 1/2 in. (17.8 × 24.1 cm)
- Classifications: Drawings, Paper
- Credit Line: Gift of George and Sarah Corbin, 2017
- Object Number: 2017.682.23
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.