Repost This ArticleThe firedancers in the first two shots belong to a Papua New Guinean tribe known as the Baining. They live on the northeastern tip of the island of New Britain which is found off the west coast of Papua New Guinea. The Baining tribes get their name from the Baining mountains which they inhabit. Their language is also called Baining, of which their are a few different dialects. It is thought that the Baining people may have inhabited this area for thousands of years. The Baining are somewhat of an of an oddity amongst Melanesian cultures because they create art forms that have a very ephemeral existence. The mask you see in shot two is laboriously made from bark cloth, bamboo, and leaves, and used just once for the firedance ceremony before being thrown away or destroyed.
All photos by Taro Taylor. 
Life in Papua New Guinea
Life in Papua New Guinea
Life in Papua New Guinea
Intermission
Life in Papua New Guinea
Life in Papua New Guinea
Life in Papua New Guinea
Life in Papua New Guinea
Life in Papua New Guinea
Life in Papua New Guinea
Taro Taylor
Taro is a self-proclaimed "mongrel", having been born in Hong Kong to a Japanese mum and English dad. He's lived in HK and the UK and now finds himself in Sydney, Australia. Some of his likes are beaches, peaches and Dachshund puppies.
Amazing!
New Britain is actually a part of Papua New Guinea. It is located northeast, not west, of the island of New Guinea. The eastern half of New Guinea is part of the nation of Papua New Guinea. The western half is part of Indonesia.
It is not unusual at all for art works to be destroyed after use in Melanesia. The malanggan funerary sculptures of New Ireland are perhaps the best known example.
These photos are amazing. I would love to go there!
Amazing photos there! Too bad I hadnt the chance to see the firedance live!
would love to have a look at PNG
If you have any connection to Iwakuni, Mitsuko Or Mickhi Kamimaki, I am your Blood Father.
Your photographs are amazing mongrel~.