Birds of paradise, John KAUAGE, Acrylic on canvas, Papua New Guinea, 2013

John Kauage: Continuing and Transforming a Visionary Legacy John Kauage stands today as one of the key figures shaping the future of contemporary art in Papua New Guinea, carrying forward the vibrant legacy of his father, Mathias Kauage (c.1944–2003). While Mathias is widely regarded as a pioneering force in PNG’s modern art movement—renowned for his bold style, vivid portrayals of urban life and Highland traditions, and significant international acclaim—it is John who is helping to ensure that this artistic vision not only endures but evolves. Growing up in the creative world his father helped to define, John Kauage absorbed the distinctive visual language that made Mathias’s work instantly recognizable: firm outlines, saturated fields of color, and a dynamic blend of traditional motifs with scenes from contemporary PNG life. But rather than simply replicate this approach, John has emerged as an artist in his own right—one who reinterprets and revitalizes these themes for a new generation. As part of the group once affectionately called the pikinini bilong Kauage (children of Kauage), John initially worked within the stylistic boundaries his father established. Over time, however, he has developed a confident and unique voice, one that honors the past while pushing beyond it. Alongside artists like his mother, Elisabet Kauage, John’s work reflects not only the enduring influence of Mathias Kauage but also the growing diversity and ambition of PNG contemporary art. Through John Kauage, the vision of Mathias continues to inspire—but more importantly, it lives, grows, and transforms with each new brushstroke.