Karen Huntt

Photographer

karenhuntt.com

Coral Sea Expedition

After three years of fundraising, research, and preparation, in 2005 I traveled to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea as part of an Explorers Club expedition to document existing traditions along coastal areas. The goal was to recapitulate the journey of two American artists – Caroline Mytinger and Margaret Warner – who journeyed there in the 1920s to document through portrait painting and writing the many cultures in transition.

Partnering with another woman photographer, our goal was to witness and record further cultural changes 80 years after the original art expedition. We discovered descendants of Caroline's portrait subjects and documented a rekindling of formerly outlawed cultural practices. The old ways, much of them forgotten, are being studied and revitalized by the locals themselves and are often synthesized with current religious systems.

Our two-month long trip was an officially sanctioned flag expedition of The Explorers Club, the Society of Woman Geographers, and Wings WorldQuest.

This is what a healthy coral re...s in this pristine environment.

This is what a healthy coral reef looks like. Locals near Tufi in the Central Province guide their outrigger canoes through "rias" or fjord-like waterways in this pristine environment.

Ancient traditions of skull wo...Island in the Solomon Islands.

Ancient traditions of skull worship are preserved in remote areas of the Coral Sea, like this reliquary on Skull Island in the Solomon Islands.

Interior of skull reliquary. Th...uld transfer to the headhunter.

Interior of skull reliquary. These ancient heads were taken in neighboring raids decades ago in the belief that their power would transfer to the headhunter.

Still active Tavurvur volcano i... out the nearby town of Rabaul.

Still active Tavurvur volcano in New Britain. Tavurvur erupted with a vengeance in 1994, wiping out the nearby town of Rabaul.

A local man reprises traditiona...rvur volcano in the background.

A local man reprises traditional costume, with sacred Tavurvur volcano in the background.

Traditional carving of canoe pr...to build and craft this vessel.

Traditional carving of canoe prows is still valued. In this village in the Louisiade Archipelago, men gathered in community to build and craft this vessel.

Water must be gathered from afa... Tufi walk for miles to get it.

Water must be gathered from afar. These women near Tufi walk for miles to get it.

A young boy carries a Triton sh...ns are often utilized as horns.

A young boy carries a Triton shell during a festival in Tawali. Tritons are often utilized as horns.

Tufi villagers work for days to... honey to calibrate the timbre.

Tufi villagers work for days to create traditional costumes for special festivals. The hand-held drums incorporate lizard skin, and use beads of honey to calibrate the timbre.

A young participant in a tradit...s a break from the festivities.

A young participant in a traditional ceremony takes a break from the festivities.

Navigation was challenging at t...archipelago near Rossel Island.

Navigation was challenging at the far reaches of the Louisiade archipelago near Rossel Island.

All hands on deck during the la... Island in the Solomon Islands.

All hands on deck during the launch of a traditional war canoe, these days used for Christian religious celebrations. Munda, New Georgia Island in the Solomon Islands.