Balangu, Teddy (1961 - )

Teddy Balangu was born in Palembei and has lived there all his life. He is Iatmul, and belongs to the Simal clan of that village (one of two clans). He is a member of a large family of artists and was trained to carve by his uncle. He said: "As a small boy I would sit and watch him carving and then one day I brought a piece of wood and started to carve with him – this is how I learned." His traditional name of Sapame comes from the story of the sun and the moon, and also means warrior or dangerous one. In 1995 he was one of twelve carvers selected to spend six months in residence at Stanford University, where he, along with other Sepik artists,created a group of monumental works known as the New Guinea Sculpture Garden. Teddy also received the Andrews Fellowship to go to the Museum of Anthropology as an artist in residence from the summer of 2006 until Dec 15, 2006. During that time he made three carvings, two of which were purchased by the Museum for the permanent collection.