Avino'e (The Moon)
(1990s)
Medium
natural pigments on nioge (woman's barkcloth skirt)
Measurements
112.5 × 110.5 cm irreg.
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Todd Barlin through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program, 2015
© the artist
Gallery location
The Ancient World
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
Nioge (barkcloths) are made exclusively by Ömie women from the south-eastern slopes of Mount Lamington, Oro Province in Papua New Guinea. Each nioge is created from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree, softened into thin sheets through an extensive process of stripping, soaking and beating. The nioges are then painted with bold black outlines called eseegé (pathways) and infilled with natural earthy pigments. Visually striking and uniquely patterned, these nioge are imbued with the cultural jagor’e (law), spiritual wisdom and environmental knowledge of their makers.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Godibehi village, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea
Accession Number
2015.260
Department
Pacific Art