No si hijomiono’o jabesi soré jajivo - (We are painting the designs of our ancestors)

A Collection of barkcloth art from the Ömie Artists, Papua New Guinea.

No si hijomiono’o jabesi soré jajivo - (We are painting the designs of our ancestors)

A Collection of barkcloth art from the Ömie Artists, Papua New Guinea.

Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by BRENDA KESI (ARIRÉ) of Omie Artists. The title is Harti’é - Design of the Ceremonial Shell Necklace. [OM10-072] (Natural Pigments on Nioge (Barkcloth)) Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by BRENDA KESI (ARIRÉ) of Omie Artists. The title is Harti’é - Design of the Ceremonial Shell Necklace. [OM10-072] (Natural Pigments on Nioge (Barkcloth))
21/33

BRENDA KESI (ARIRÉ)

Harti’é - Design of the Ceremonial Shell Necklace
OM10-072
Natural Pigments on Nioge (Barkcloth)
 Harti’é - Design of the Ceremo… | OM10-072
Natural Pigments on Nioge (Barkclot…
 119 x 58cm | 46.85 x 22.83in
Find Out More

The lines that run through the painting are known as orriseegé or ’pathways’ and provide a compositional framework for the design. The adjoining arch design is harti’é - an Ematé clan design which is painted directly onto the shell of the ceremonial shell necklace hartu’é. hartu’é have mouthpieces behind the shell which dancers bite to display in their mouths during ceremonial dance performances.

Ömie people obtained the shells from coastal tribes of Oro Province by means of trade. Most hartu’é and other shell necklaces that can still be found in the Ömie mountains were originally traded by the owners parents or grandparents a long time ago. As a girl, Brenda Kesi was adopted by Gama, father of Nathan Gama, Chief of Ematé clan men. Both Brenda and Nathan were taught this design harti’é by Gama at Enopé village, an old stronghold of the Ematé clan. Gama would engrave the harti’é design at the ends of his kukuhone (bamboo smoking pipe).

The lines that run through the painting are known as orriseegé or ’pathways’ and provide a compositional framework for the design. The adjoining arch design is harti’é - an Ematé clan design which is painted directly onto the shell of the ceremonial shell necklace hartu’é. hartu’é have mouthpieces behind the shell which dancers bite to display in their mouths during ceremonial dance performances.

Ömie people obtained the...