Details of Jean-Mary Warrimou (Hujama)
About
Jean-Mary's mother was Lita Numere of Gorabuna village (Sahuote clan) and her father was Michael Kokia of Duharenu village (emate clan). She is married to Rex Warimmou, a strong jagor'e (law) man for the Dahouraje clan. Jean-Mary and Rex have seven children. She was originally taught to paint by her sister-in-law Lila Warimou (Misaso), the Paramount Chief of Omie women but is now a confident and talented painter in her own right. Jean-Mary is one of the few Omie artists who paints uehorero (her own wisdom). Accompanied by her husband, she loves to visit the lands of his ancestors around Dahore Omie (Mt. Omie), the first mountain, where the mighty Girua River begins and also where the sacred creation site of Mina and Suja, the first man and woman of the world can be found. She draws much inspiration from her observations of the natural world such as rocks forming from minerals in volcanic waters and the sensous curls of ferm leaves. The designs she creates are always loaded with a powerful relationship to her culture - to her peoples origins, her beliefs, customs and those of her ancestors. Jean-Mary is now teaching her eldest daughter Alison Hinana to paint barkcloth designs.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2011 We hold our mother's teachings in our hearts and hands, Short St Gallery, Broome
2010 Rweromo gare niogehu mamabahe ajive (Come and see the beauty and brightness of our barkcloths), Chapman Gallery, Canberra
COLLECTIONS
High Commission of Papua New Guinea, Canberra
