Understanding the Significance of Ancestral Skull Repatriation in Papua New Guinea
- ArtMoments2024
- Feb 28
- 1 min read
The Chau Chak Wing Museum in Sydney has repatriated 16 human skulls to Papua New Guinea, returning them to six village communities in Madang province.
These remains were collected between 1876 and 1877 by Russian scientist Nickolai N. Miklouho-Maclay, who aimed to challenge racial biases through his studies. Donated to Sydney University’s Macleay Museum in 1888, the skulls were rediscovered by Miklouho-Maclay’s great-great nephew, leading to a request for their return. The repatriation was marked by traditional ceremonies, symbolizing the restoration of history and cultural heritage.
Exhibitions
 Celebrating 50 years of the Jakarta Biennale, featuring international visual arts, with an opening on October 1 - November 15, 2024, at Selasar Galeri Emiria Soenassa, Taman Ismail Marzuki, showcasing performances and music by various artists and communities, and free for the public. |  "PANORAMA: Radetyo Itok," a solo exhibition by Radetyo Itok, curated by Rizki A. Zaelani and officiated by Yudi Wanandi, explores imaginative expressions of daily life experiences through a series of artworks, running from October 2 to November 2, 2024, at Galeri ZEN1 in Jakarta. |  "THE QUEST," a solo exhibition by Samsul Arifin, showcases his journey through paintings and installations featuring fabric dolls and pencils, exploring the unpredictability of life and the importance of roots and spiritual guidance, from October 1 to October 31, 2024, at Nadi Gallery in Jakarta. |
