Lucus Tangun
Artist Statement
Lucas Tangun was born July 15, 1969, into the
Nauwaia clan of the Iatmul people. He learned to carve
from his father. Growing up in Tambanum Village in
the Middle Sepik region of Papua New Guinea, he was
exposed to many skilled carvers and showed remarkable promise from an early age. His talent and skill are wide-ranging, encompassing both monumental works and delicate, refined sculpture.
In 1986, Lucas spent a year at the Production
Workshop of the National Arts School in Port
Moresby, where he also taught others. During his
stay, he carved support posts for a number of public
buildings, including the police station, and participated
in an exhibition.
Since 1992, he’s exhibited regularly at Alcheringa
Gallery in Victoria, Canada.
His works can be found in the collections of the
Museum of Anthropology at the University of British
Columbia and the Museum of World Cultures
(Museum der Weltkulturen) in Frankfurt, Germany.