Cosmopolitanism: The new generation of contemporary artists in Papua New Guinea

In recent years in Papua New Guinea (PNG), there has been a rise of new and bold contemporary artists whose work provokes socio-political awareness and builds a strong affinity to global urban communities. Today, in PNG, the economy is booming and accessibility to the Internet and multimedia technology is made possible for a wider demographic. More than ever, there is a new generation of artists who are able to disseminate information anywhere and learn about life everywhere. This research offers a framework to begin to understand the significance of the art and life of a "cosmopolitan generation" of artists.;In the first chapter of this thesis, I briefly describe circumstances that defined previous movements of artists starting with the emergence of contemporary art during Papua New Guinea's Independence period in the 1970's. Through first-hand interviews, the second chapter focuses on four young artists based in Port Moresby and Goroka. In chapter two, I provide biographical narratives of four young Papua New Guinean artists, juxtaposing oral narratives, a visual analysis of art practices, and examples of the ways artists exemplify cosmopolitan attitudes. Following their artistic narratives, I offer insights into the complexities of their integration into a global community, one that is empowering, and simultaneously, disempowering for young emerging artists.