The art of the Sepik River region has more variety and is richer than that of any other section of Oceania. This area includes the coast north and south of the mouth of the river and the areas bordering on both banks for a considerable distance up the large and meandering stream and its tributaries. Vast swamps are found along the coast and in many places along the shores of the Sepik. Grassy plains, high plateaus, and high mountains make up the terrain along its length.
Seasonal floods inundate parts of both banks along the middle and lower reaches.
At these times great hard wood logs are swept downstream and provide material from which houses and carvings are made, while up and down the Sepik the river itself provides a broad avenue for the distribution of objects from one region to another. All the cultures of the Sepik River region have certain basic elements in common that appear in many local variations. The rites involve everywhere the use of a vast number of carved and decorated objects. These objects are of two kinds- sacred hidden ones, which may be seen only by a particular group of persons, and others that are used and seen by everyone. In both categories, representations of supernatural spirits are frequent and the sense of the dramatic is very strong.