Close-up of the making of a bead mosaic. It will later be worn as a skirt on festive occasions. This image is part of the Office for Information and Radio Broadcasting Netherlands New Guinea. Papuan beadwork developed through the use of seeds, shells, and later trade beads, constructed in tightly packed formations to create thick, weight-bearing surfaces. The image centers the act of making, foregrounding touch, labor, and the slow construction of form.