PIKSATOK (2025)

A collaborative photography project with journalism students from the University of Papua New Guinea.

This year Papua New Guinea celebrates 50 years of independence. On 16 September, 1975, Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia, which had controlled PNG since 1906.

To mark this commemorative occasion, we partnered with the University of Papua New Guinea and 11 journalism students in the School of Arts and Humanities to document Port Moresby with black and white film. Working on and around the 16th of September, Papua New Guinea’s Independence Day, students documented celebrations, sing-sing performances and cultural shows, as well as contemporary daily life in PNG’s capital city.

Provided with 35mm film cameras and two rolls of black and white film each, this was all of the students’ first experience with film photography. Filled with enthusiasm and excitement, the students documented independence day celebrations around the city, as well as daily life in their communities, creating a unique and historic documentary visual record of Papua New Guinea 50 years on from gaining independence.