Creations

New

From The

Sepik

IN the past, villagers along the Sepik River of Papua New Guinea built cult houses or haus tambarans which were often lavishly decorated with bark paintings and carvings. There are still quite a number of cult houses along the Sepik River but in some villages virtually no painting is done now.

For example, 25 years ago Kam baramba village had at least three haus tambarans lavishly decorated with bark paintings. Today nothing remains apart from a few posts sticking out of the water. There is still one (out of two) haus tam baran remaining at Kambot village but the interior is devoid of any form of decoration. The only thing left is one large painting on the facade.

Fortunately there are still a few old men in each village who are still able to paint and draw in the traditional style. Helen Dennett, who lives at Angoram, has collected a large number of paintings as well as designs on wood, clay, bamboo and tortoise shell. So many people have been interested in this type of art that she has selected 150 designs which will be published in a book later this year, by Wirui Press of Wewak.

Recently, Mrs Dennett was asked by the government to organise a cul tural centre in Angoram. The first task is to restore the large cult

house at Angoram. Six new posts are to be carved to replace rotten ones, The floor and roof are to be corn pletely renewed and bark paintings redone. Some paintings have un fortunately been almost completely obliterated by the weather. Profits from the book will go to setting up a small, combined museum, artists’ workshop and information centre, The government has given $5OO to get the project under way.

Posters on these pages feature Simon Norep’s work. He is an old man and works with the aid of glasses, drawing on white paper with a black pencil.