Here is a variety of face painting designs from various tribes of Papua New Guinea. Even though some are similar in color combinations, the detail remains unique as a personal expression of the bearer. The extensive use of bush material, bird feathers and bodies, knitted caps, couscous fur, clay, mud, dyes, plant materials, shells and bamboo to name a few is paramount in Papua New Guinean traditional costumes.
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| Notice the use of Rainbow lorikeets on the head dress |
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| Face paint renders the face more fierce, an effective way to scare enemies away. |
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| Yellow and red are the signature colors of the Huli tribe |
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| Notice the use of moss |
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| A Tambul lady is dressed in a man's outfit |
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| A man dressed in a woman's outfit |
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| This Foi tribesman comes from a remote region of Southern Highlands Province. His black headdress is made of cassowary feathers. |
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| This Foi tribesman from Lake Kutubu is applying traditional face paint |
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| This lady proudly wears an entire Kina shell on her chest. Kina shells are valuable to this day. There were largely used as money of exchange before paper money appeared. |
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| Young man from Simbu province. |
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| The little "fan" on the front top is made of parrot feathers. |
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| The traditional cap is handwoven and filled with dried grass to give it its shape. |
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| The yellow necklaces are made of orchid stems. The feather across the face comes from the King of Saxony bird of paradise. |
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| This man's headband is made of beetles. |
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| Spectacular headdress from Simbu |
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| Necklaces are made of various materials including the tusks of pigs. |
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| This man's wig is made of his own hair. The Huli men are also called wigmen. |
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| Lake Kutubu Foi tribesmen wear belts made of bamboo. |
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| Face painting designs are specific to each tribe. Each individual has the flexibility to create his/her very own design. |
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| Black, yellow, white and red adorn the flag of PNG today. |
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| The use of sea shells extends deep into the interior of PNG. |
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| Elaborate headdress include the use of Birds of Paradise feathers. |
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| Simbu lady is adorned with kina shells necklaces and vibrant orange color feathers. |
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| This Enga lady necklaces are made of natural beads and cuscus fur |
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| Bugamo tribesmen decorate their bodies with design mimicking the body's inner bone structure. |
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| Lake Kutubu's Foi tribesman wears a tree bark belt |
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| This Hagen lady wears numerous seashells necklaces, one of Hagen's women tradition. |
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| A Huli Wigman adorns his wig with bird of paradise and parrot feathers. |
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| A Kandep man uses tree kangaroo fur as ear decorations |
