Jean-Mary Warrimou (Hujama) Papua New Guinean, Omie, b. 1967
sodireje - rocks forming from minerals at the volcanic headwaters of the Girua River
natural pigments on nioge (barkcloth)
99 x 83 cm
787958
Jean-Mary was on the highly sacred Mt. Omie - the first mountain - which forms part of the greater volcano Huvaemo, or Mt. Lamington. The mighty headwaters of the Girua...
Jean-Mary was on the highly sacred Mt. Omie - the first mountain - which forms part of the greater volcano Huvaemo, or Mt. Lamington. The mighty headwaters of the Girua River flow down from Mt. Omie. It is here that the first man and woman, Mina and Suja, were created. At this site, Jean-Mary observed a curious phenomenon of rock forming on the waterfall rockface and then again in the river, built up from the high concentration of minerals from the volcanic water. Using uehorero (her own wisdom) she was inspired to create this design - sodireje, rock forming from minerals. The lines that run through the work are known as orriseege or pathways and provide a compositional framework for the design.