Václav Fiala (1896–1980), whose other exhibition is running in parallel in the series „exhibitions from the depository“ in the permanent exhibition, was involved in illustration in addition to his free work. We are now presenting his significant work in this field, which stands out simply because he illustrated his own text here. However, it was not literary fiction, as Fiala based it on another text – the travelogue of the famous Russian naturalist, ethnographer, and anthropologist Nikolai Nikolayevich Miklucho-Maklay (1846–1888), describing his scientific expeditions to New Guinea. Fiala thoroughly studied Maklaj‘s diaries, photographs, and scientific drawings and used them to create a thrilling story of his expeditions; he then incorporated the ethnographic artifacts depicted in them into his illustrations as part of the everyday life of the Papuans.

Maklaj was the first scientist to comprehensively study this unique world at a time when it was slowly disappearing due to increasingly frequent contact with white visitors. He also provided the Papuans with medicines and other modern conveniences that made their lives easier, while treating the sick and stopping bloody wars between tribes. As a result, they considered him a „good god,“ as evidenced by his nickname „man from the moon,“ in the Bongo language tamo (man) kaaram (moon), or Kaaran-tamo in Fiala‘s words