Project overview

‘Constitution Walk’ provides a physical link between the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) and the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance (PILAG). The precinct is comprised of a number of new buildings spread out between the neighbouring sites of the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) and the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance (PILAG), a centre established to up-skill public servants, developed and designed for the purpose of encouraging greater collaboration between the students of both institutions. Conceived and developed by JCA in Association with Architectus, Constitution Walk is approximately 950 metres long and connects the Sir Sere Pitoi Rumana building and new Library at PILAG to the new Lecture Theatre and School of Business and Public Policy within UPNG. The path, which features landscaping, security lighting and nine sculptures made by local artists, helps build deeper linkages between these key national institutions.

The approach by JCA and Architectus was to commission 10 Port Moresby based Papua New Guinean artists to create a series of sculptures that were to be sculptural representations of a theme. The artists were to have a broad range of life experiences in order to bring as much diversity to the creative approach as possible. The theme was to reference the important historical value of the sites, be relevant to the current socio-political discourse in PNG and provide an opportunity for the artists and public to engage and be inspired by the content. The theme selected was The Preamble to Papua New Guinea’s Constitution. The Preamble contains the Adoption of the Constitution, 5 National Goals and Directive Principles, Basic Rights and Basic Social Obligations.

The artists selected parts of The Preamble that spoke to them and created artworks that reflected their strong feelings of connection to those statements. The artworks created are not only reflections of various parts of The Preamble but the representation of very personal stories.