In the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea, Enga Province has over the last 4 decades become home to an extraordinary contemporary art form: sand painting.
Unlike traditional sand art elsewhere, Engan sand painting was born not from ritual, but resourcefulness.
In the late 1970’s and early 1980s, Akii Tumu, then head of the Enga Cultural Centre in Wabag and a graduate of Port Moresby’s National Art School, devised a method using locally sourced materials in response to a lack of conventional art supplies like canvas or paint.
To craft these works, artists grind multicoloured stones from secret sites across Enga into fine powders. These “sands” are then meticulously sprinkled onto adhesive-coated boards, layer by layer, and excess material is removed when the glue sets, revealing vivid forms and textures. The process is painstaking, requires precise dexterity, and depends on locating the right pigments, many of which come from remote rivers and rugged riverbeds.
Over time, this artform has evolved. Initial motifs leaned toward stylized, traditional designs, but increasingly artists began portraying scenes from daily life in realistic, accessible detail, bridging cultural expression and modern aesthetics.
These works are more than art. They have become iconic representations of Engan cultural life and history. They offer the opportunity to engage with this art form as part of broader platform for traditional performances and storytelling.
Among contemporary creators, Rex Epen stands out for his refined and evocative sand paintings. His works use coloured sand glued on board to portray Highland life and daily activities. Epen’s focus on individual portraiture lends his work a timeless, culturally resonant quality that portrays the people of Enga while appealing to a broader international audience.
Engan sand painting has emerged as a distinctive fusion of innovation, tradition, and perseverance. Originating from necessity, it has matured into a celebrated artistic medium, honouring heritage, narrating Highland life, and forging cultural bridges. Artists like Rex Epen continue advancing this legacy, crafting artworks that both local communities and the global art world can admire and appreciate.
Through sand, glue, and story, Engan artists have sculpted a modern cultural tradition that remains deeply rooted in place, identity, and creative expression.
