THE ROLE OF PRIMITIVE ART ON VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE - ITS RELEVANCE ON CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE IN PAPUA-NEW-GUINEA

Papua New Guinea is renowned for its colourful and delightful primitiv e objects of art. This paper offers an alternative explanation of the role of primitive art on vernacular architecture. To understand this r ole clearly, the meaning and the functions of primitive art are, first , defined. The role played by primitive art among the Papua New Guinea n societies is then explained. Finally, the paper suggests the need fo r a conscious integration of this art into other aspects of developmen t in Papua New Guinea; contemporary architectural works being one of t hem. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.