Artist statement: TIME #5: SANDPAINTING : PAPUA NEW GUINEA

The fifth piece in my Times series is inspired by our trip to PAPUA NEW GUINEA: VISITING TIME: 1979

I am inspired for this piece by a sandpainting of a Highland Warrior  of the Enga Province in Papua New Guinea that we bought during our trip. As far as I can find out on internet it is made by Rex Epen.

We have seen these people dancing and walking around in this outfit. On his arm he is  wearing a kina. Kina means pearl oyster and was formerly used as a form of currency. The current currency of Papua New Guinea is named after it. We have several of these kina’s at home, just like the axe and the jute sack he carries.

For the background fabric I used a rusted fabric. as I used for the frames for Time # 1 and # 3.

The whole figure  and the animals are appliqued, first on Steam & Seam light with tulle, cut out, pressed onto the background fabric and sewn on. Background is machine quilted.