Ancient technique is a symbol of heritage

A centuries-old art technique used by an ancient tribe in Papua New Guinea will feature in an exhibition in Broome next week.

For hundreds of years, the Omie tribe from the remote mountainous interior of the Oro province in Papua New Guinea has produced paintings from barkcloth – an ancient fabric used for traditional clothing – inspired by natural landscape.

Now 17 emerging Omie artists will bring their unique barkcloth works to Short Street Gallery for their We Hold Our Mother’s Teachings in our Hearts and Hands exhibition.

Barkcloth is traditionally made from the fleshy inner bark fibre of specific rainforest trees.

The bark fibre is pounded using mallets and folded until it becomes a flattened sheet of strong cloth.

Each artwork represents the artist’s ancestral heritage, drawing on the spiritual and cultural relationship of the natural environment.

According to their ancient culture, the first man, Mina, instructed Suja, the first woman and mother of the world, to beat and dye the first “nioge” (women’s barkcloth).

Since then, barkcloth has been an important feature in the life of tribal clans, playing a pivotal role in initiation rites. The Omie Artists exhibition will be held at 6pm at Short Street Gallery on Thursday, August 11.