Exhibition themes Murik Lakes+Lower Sepik

To the north of the Sepik River’s mouth is Murik Lakes, a 40-kilometre stretch of sandy coast backed by a hinterland of shallow intertidal mangrove lagoons. It is home to the Murik people who live in beachside villages. With their outrigger sailing canoes, the Murik are the most accomplished seaboard traders in the region and act as the middlemen between many communities through a widespread network. The inland mangroves have narrow channels that connect to the lower Sepik region, giving access to the Sepik River without entering via its mouth.

Within the art of the lower Sepik region there is attention to symmetry and balance. For the Murik people, this visual precision comes from the aspiration to be as skilled as a spider, referred to as ‘the master designer’ because of the meticulous complexity of their webs.

Away from the Murik Lakes, the mouth of the Sepik and Ramu rivers both empty into the sea less than 30 kilometres away from each other. This region is home to the Watam, Kopar, Kayan and Gamei people among others. All share marked similarities in their customs and visual arts, perhaps due to the extensive trade networks with the Murik people.