Thursday 19 January 2012

Barkcloth Art for New Zealand Exhibition

Three of my barkcloth paintings have been selected for the Natural Fibres Innovation Exhibition which will be held at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand during the last week of this month.  Here is a sneak preview of one of them, just completed last week:


"Red Palm Grove"
Acrylics on Traditional Fijan Barkcloth
Size: 60 x 60 cm (inclusive of barkcloth-covered mount)

Also selected was "The Sigidrigi Mat" which I painted late last year:

This piece, executed in acrylics and pigment pen on a piece of beautiful white masi,  measures 66 x 66 cm (painted barkcloth mount included).  Used for ceremonial purposes as well as for eating, sleeping and sitting on, hand-woven pandanus mats that are central to life in every Fijian household.  A gathering of friends and neighbours on a mat of an evening may give rise to a spontaneous “sigidrigi” or informal folk singing session, accompanied by ukuleles and guitars.  Between the songs, stories are told and ideas discussed. This painting celebrates the creative spirit of such occasions.


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