Nom’e Javavamu Darugé I’jové (We Dance Our Designs to Life)

A Collection of Barkcloth Art from the Ömie Artists, Papua New Guinea

Nom’e Javavamu Darugé I’jové (We Dance Our Designs to Life)

A Collection of Barkcloth Art from the Ömie Artists, Papua New Guinea

Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by JEAN-MARY WARRIMOU (HUJAMA) of Omie Artists. The title is Vaguré – Fern leaves. [16-019] (Natural Pigments on Nioge (Barkcloth)) Australian Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) artwork by JEAN-MARY WARRIMOU (HUJAMA) of Omie Artists. The title is Vaguré – Fern leaves. [16-019] (Natural Pigments on Nioge (Barkcloth))
9/33

JEAN-MARY WARRIMOU (HUJAMA)

Vaguré – Fern leaves
16-019
Natural Pigments on Nioge (Barkcloth)
 Vaguré – Fern leaves | 16-019
Natural Pigments on Nioge (Barkclot…
 87 x 71cm | 34.25 x 27.95in (irregular)
Find Out More

Jean-Mary was walking through the highly sacred Ancestral Dahorurajé clan-lands around Mount Ömie, which forms part of the greater volcano Huvaimo (Mount Lamington). In this country, she observed a beautiful fern whose leaves grew out from each other with connecting stems. Using uehëro (her own “wisdom”), she was inspired to create this design. Ferns are particularly significant symbolism for Ömie women because once women reach sexual maturity, they are ceremonially initiated into womanhood by being marked with a facial tattoo just by their mouths on the cheek. The design is called jö’o sor’e and represents an uncurling fern frond. This practice is not simply clan-based but is practiced throughout the entire Ömie tribe. Jean-Mary’s vaguré design has strong aesthetic similarities with the ancient jö’o sor’e. The bristle design is highly reminiscent of fern designs seen in the work of Dahorurajé clan Chief Fate Savari (Isawdi), and also Ematé clan elder Mala Nari (Matosi). The bands that run through the work are known as orriseegé (pathways/paths) and provide a compositional framework for the design.

Jean-Mary was walking through the highly sacred Ancestral Dahorurajé clan-lands around Mount Ömie, which forms part of the greater volcano Huvaimo (Mount Lamington). In this country, she observed a beautiful fern whose leaves grew out from each other with connecting stems. Using uehëro (her own “wisdom”), she was inspired to create this design. Ferns are particularly significant symbolism for Ömie women because once women reach sexual maturity, they are ceremonially...