Interview with Curator Wap-hill Imbun on Papua New Guinea Independence and Pasifika Representation
Papua New Guinea marked its 47th anniversary of independence on September 16. The occasion was commemorated through an interview with Wap-hill Imbun, a Papua New Guinean-Australian curator based in Western Sydney. Imbun discussed the significance of independence, highlighting national unity amid cultural diversity. She also detailed her Instagram initiative, Pasifikavisuals, which curates visual narratives from across the Pacific to promote accurate representation. The conversation touched on challenges in sourcing materials from lesser-known islands and addressed the presence of Pacific artifacts in Australian institutions. Imbun expressed hopes for greater national autonomy and gender equality in Papua New Guinea's future.
Key facts
- Papua New Guinea celebrated 47 years of independence on September 16
- Wap-hill Imbun is a Papua New Guinean-Australian curator living in Western Sydney
- Imbun runs the Instagram page Pasifikavisuals to showcase Pacific visual stories
- The Australian Museum holds over 60,000 Pacific artifacts, including 40,000 from Papua New Guinea
- Imbun advocates for visiting museums to connect with cultural heritage while abroad
Entities
Artists
- Wap-hill Imbun
- Lesley Wengembo
Institutions
- Australian Museum
- Wantok Sydney
- National Arts School
Locations
- Papua New Guinea
- Sydney
- Enga Province
- Western Sydney
- Brisbane
- Tokelau