Papua New Guinea (PNG) gained independence on 16 September 1975. The 50th anniversary in 2025 are marked by various cultural initiatives and projects, with celebrations taking place nationwide.
WanBel is a digital platform that will accompany these celebrations over the coming months, connecting collections internationally. In the local language, Tok Pisin, ‘Wan Bel’ means ‘one belly’ and symbolises the community spirit that is also expressed through this initiative. It is organised by the National Museum and National Gallery of Papua New Guinea.
WanBel: Connecting Papua New Guinea Heritage across the World
WanBel: a PNG Collective Global Exhibition
WanBel is a landmark exhibition organized by the Mariwai Project in partnership with the National Museum and Art Gallery and the PNG National Cultural Commission, which commemorates Papua New Guinea’s 50th Anniversary of Independence. It highlights the culture of PNG through a growing network which already includes over 40 international museums from 14 countries, presenting PNG’s art and objects through diverse displays, educational programs, and cultural exchanges. The project includes a central digital platform that unites high-quality images, videos, and 3D scans of PNG cultural objects, enhancing global accessibility and engagement. WanBel also brings the exhibition experience back to PNG through immersive outdoor media and projections, encouraging local connection to cultural roots and ensuring a lasting online legacy of PNG’s artistic heritage worldwide.
WANBEL: Connecting Papua New Guinea heritage across the World
The MARKK collections bear witness to the artistic expressions of Papua New Guinea in many ways, as well as to the intertwined histories that connect Hamburg with large parts of the country. The collections date back to the German colonial era and beyond.
In collaboration with WanBel, MARKK aims to showcase this cultural heritage and contribute to the celebrations. Over the coming weeks and months, various events, projects and artefacts will be presented and linked, each with a different focus.
Events, projects, and object presentations
Thursday, October 2 | 7 p.m.: Discussion on the independence of Papua New Guinea – MARKK
Artist Gazellah Bruder and project partner Nakni Nelly engage in conversation with Dr. Jeanette Kokott, curator of the Oceania department, and Dr. Jasmin Günther, provenance researcher for the colonial context.