Present Encounters : Papers from the conference of the Second Asia-Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, Brisbane, 1996

cannot be decoded in terms of where they come from. Within the Mogei context the array of objects for the headd ress d isrupt calls for originality and demands a recognition of peoples' capacity to respond to and accommodate change. This is a convergence; a syncretic position where the Mogei conti nue to have ownership of their art and their artistic practices. Now, coming back to my earl ier line of thought, the West has translated the decorated body - the physical representation of Mogei art - as a native, a New Guinea Highlander, a blakfella dressed i n trad itional costume, you m ight even say a somewhat 'dodgy' character, in the middle of civilisation . In the footsteps of Fanon, Said, Lacan and Bhabha these perhaps are some of your responses to that 'other' that you see standing i n front of you. But if we understand the Mogei art of process and experience, which at its core is personal, these are ultimately your i mages constituting us. I ndeed , they are not what we are but what you think we are, or more l i kely what you would like us to be. Our presence should instead challenge those categories; categories which seem to reveal a reality, but wh ich are in fact constructions that misrepresent me and my Mogeiness. We should now be more open to d ialogue, d ifference and i nfl uence and share a willingness to respond to change. This I hope will be one of the underlying currents of this forum, and i ndeed of the Triennial. Now let me focus on the point of a dynamic culture. As contemporary artists this is our role - to take on the new, blend it and weave a location. I ndeed , such has been the story of my l ife as you will come to hear as I tell you my story. I came to Mel and Kerua as their first-born and am a descendant of the Mogei Pangump clan of the Mogei tri be i n the Gomis area . When I came to my parents I was named Mek. Mek is the name given to one of the many species of the beautiful Birds of Paradise commonly found in my area. Being named as a special bird, or for that matter after an uncle, aunt or ancestor, was an important connection between me and my clan . The con nections by being named in this way maintained relationships and in turn enhanced livelihood . I grew up as a child in the village of Kilipika. I was born on the 8th of March 1 959 to Leo and Rosa Mel . I was christened Michael by the late Fr Wi lliam Ross on the 1 Oth of Apri l 1 959 at Rebiamul Parish in the then Diocese of Western High lands in PNG . Michael , I was to learn later, was an a rchangel in heaven and he would guide and protect me. As a child within my clan I was taught how to make a garden, bui ld a house and go hunting , among other things. I learned where to wal k, how to greet, whom to respect, how to conduct myself, and the history of my people . I was enrolled a t t he Holy Tri nity Primary School in 1 965. The Sister who was the Head Mistress brought me to her office on enrolment day a nd asked me to reach for my left ear across and over my head with my right a rm. I managed to get my fingers to nudge at my ear lobe. The Sister looked me over and then at my tiny fingers and with a booming voice told me that I was to be in prep class. There I learned of kangaroos, kookaburras, sheep and Australia. I learned to sing about the swagman , the billy and the billabong. I learned of I s and 2s and 3 s and their numerous and various combinations. I continued at Holy Trinity, going up a grade each year. I returned home each holiday but i n time I found myself a little further from my people. I was not able to learn all of the knowledge, values, rules and regulations that embodied my gkuh tapa. I was not able to learn all the songs and dances. Today Mek has flown to Australia. Michael has seen the kangaroo, the billabong and the kookaburra. Mek is a descendant of the Mogei Pangump clan of the Mogei people in the Highlands of PNG . Michael is writing and speaki ng in Australia. This is a synoptic view of the legacies and traditions that have been left behind by what appear to be two worlds, two locations. One belongs to Mek, the other belonging to Michael. 54