Comments on: San Francisco Performance: Kam long mi- Opim ai na iau

By: Jacinta william

Jacinta william — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 06:22:30 +0000

Thank you, Dr. Mel.

It would be good to see you in a full Mogei bilas one of these days and then the public won’t raise the comments and observations they are raising. This is simly becuse of your years that you have spent at the University of Goroka you problably have not done much or have anythng to show the world or PNG what you have done or are doing actively in the arts. You probably do great things up at UOG but I have no idea. You have great ideas and great passion to be doing what you are doing but do more so back in PNG first than overseas. Thank you. Jacinta

By: admin

admin — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:58:34 +0000

To make it easier to follow and contribute to the discussion about Michael Mel's performance art that's occurring now on several pages on this site, I'm going to be moving these comments to a single page, the artist's biography. I'll post a permanent link to that page here. Please follow up the discussion on that page. Dan

By: Ben Kennedy

Ben Kennedy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:41:45 +0000

Asso. Prof. Mel,
I agree with the above comment made by Jacinta. Sorry, but your explaination falls short. It does not do justice to what you spend so much energy and time in this venture of trying to promote us. You seem to be to missing out the essence of what culture is all about. Your performances clearly show that you really do not have a indept appreciation of your own culture because your approach and eveything would be different. Talking about it is different but really living and practising it is different. Just an observation. Kennedy.

By: Michael Mel

Michael Mel — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:47:11 +0000

Dear Jacinta,

Thank you for your comments above and also those you have written elsewhere with Hailans to Ailans. Regarding your observations on my costumes,I made a deliberate choice in my costumes to take aspects of PNG (including WHP). The kina is Melpa, and of course me and language is melpa, pidgin and English, lalap is colonial and contemporary PNG, Beads from Highlands, Sepik, Songs from Western, Milne Bay. I also use a bilum style path (like a Hagen apron or balg) during the performance which was woven by mothers in Goroka and Hagen.

My performance is by a W’Highlander (Proud Hagener) but the issues and focus is PNG and international insofar as history has shaped us and connects us.

Thank you.

By: Jacinta J William

Jacinta J William — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:04:06 +0000

Asso.Prof. Dr. Mel,
In your performances, do you see yourself as a PNG or as a Melpa? Your bilas does not really signify you as a Western Highlander yet performances and presentations have much to do with Melpa language and culture. A bit disappointing for me to view your pictures with not much of Melpa bilas (headdress, or other ornaments to assert that Melpa identity.) If you have done that in your performances than my apology. Perhaps in the next performance you might include that. That adds value. A proud PNG.