Artist wins praise at Pacific festival

BILUM weaver Hellen Pange is one of the individual artists who represented Papua New Guinea at the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts in Guam.
The 37-year-old mother of two hails from Kumbame village in Ialibu, Southern Highlands.
Pange started the art of weaving at a tender age back in the village. Her father was one of the cultural officers at the Kumbame Cultural Centre.
Her mother taught her how to weave and she grew up with the life-long skill.
At first Pange thought it was just one of her childhood hobbies but as she grew up into a young woman and after she got married, the hobby turned into a business venture.
She weaves all kinds of patterns, sizes and shapes of both traditional and contemporary bilums which has now become her income-earner while living with her husband and children in Port Moresby.
“It is my daily activity but I normally sell them every Sunday and not any other day. I go to Islander Hotel (Holiday Inn craft market) to I sell my bilums,” Pange said
She said her contemporary bilums were made of acrylic wool but the traditional ones were made from the bush vines sent all the way from her village.
Pange said the traditional bilums were based on a village folklore which gave them meaning.
“I am here in Guam to showcase my talent in weaving and also to promote the artwork in my country,” she said.
Pange received a lot praise for her artwork at the festival.
Festival participants from other Pacific Island countries and territories who visited the PNG booth were treated with the displays of all forms of art including the Sepik bilums, carvings, baskets of all shapes and sizes, paintings, necklaces and many other traditional wares.
Pange said it was most satisfying to showcase her skills abroad and also promote her country.