| Business |
Artist Oko Fumi
seeks help to promote bilum art
The humble bilum, (string bag) has
come a long way from the days when it was merely used as a bag
to carry personal belongings, market produce and for rocking
babies to sleep in.
Some years ago, the creativity of women bilum weavers in the
Highlands and innovative ideas of certain fashion minded
individuals gave rise to what is known as bilum fashion.
Dresses, tops and skirts, shirts and headwear made from bilum
string have since graced cat walks on models here and overseas
and become the team attire for PNG sportsmen and women at
international meets.
Two years ago artist Oko Fumi from Lufa in Eastern Highlands
province made a portrait of the Prime Minister of PNG, Sir
Michael Somare out of bilum string and now we have bilum art.
Mr Fumi, 25 who resides at the Two Mile settlement in Port
Moresby says this form of art is hard to master manually.
In took him four weeks, in June 2005, to complete a portrait of
the Prime Minister of PNG.
The portrait measuring 1.3 x 1meter was sold for K10,000 at an
auction to raise money for the National Alliance party.
He explained that the portrait was done on a stock feed bag
using around K40 worth of wool to create the picture.
It's a novel art form, which according to Fumi is not been done
by anyone else manually in PNG.
Fumi has plans to develop this art form but in a way that will
earn major benefits.
He has organized a group of well known women bilum weavers from
Two Mile settlement to assist him in his plans.
"I would like to do portraits of world leaders and visiting
dignitaries," he said.
"Because there's quite a bit of work involved we would like to
document on CD's the whole process from sketching the portrait
on the stock feed bags, weaving of the various colours on the
bag and the finished product,"
"So when we sell the portraits, we also give the CD's so the
buyer can see and appreciate how the product was made," he said.
He has appealed for financial assistance to purchase a video
camera, tapes and CD's to do this.
He said the bilum is part of the cultural heritage of PNG and
any art form which is developed from it should be supported and
promoted overseas.
"We can make millions overseas with our bilums, bilum fashion
and bilum art,
"Papua New Guinean artists and craftspeople are creative and
innovative. We are original with our ideas and this is something
the Government must appreciate and promote for the benefit of
the artists and the industry," he said
He urged the Lufa MP Sirupa and Eastern Highlands governor
Malcolm Smith to take the first step to assist the group.
"There are many craftsmen and women in the province who are
struggling to earn a living,
"If their work can be promoted in PNG and overseas, it can sell
PNG as a major tourist destination," Fumi said.
He said the women at Two Mile are set to start.
"We have the wool, the basic material to start but I want our
work to be filmed and documented and I want our efforts to earn
financial gain for the group,
"I want to do portraits that will sell and also educate the
buyer about the process of bilum art and the effort put into it.
"We are marketing bilum art, we are telling the world that this
is an art form from PNG.
He said this way the weavers are seen as professional artisans
and they earn money from their talents.
He said the group has agreed to donate a percentage of their
earnings to charity.
Fumi has appealed for assistance to purchase a video camera and
other material to kick start their plans.
For more information Fumi can be contacted through his sister Ms
Kures Riwa on ph:3213510, fax: 3255941 mob: 682 6347.
Those who wish to donate to his project can do so to his wife
Lisa Loti's account at ANZ Waigani. Number 11695818.
 
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