ÖMIE ARTISTS is a cooperative of Ömie tribeswomen barkcloth painters from Mt. Lamington in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. Barkcloth is the traditional textile of the Ömie tribe. Ancient clan designs are either painted with natural pigments in freehand onto the cloth or the cloth is dyed in river mud and the designs are appliquéd. Women wear nioge (skirts) while men wear givai (loincloths). Barkcloth serves important purposes in marriage, funerary and initiation ceremonies as well as utilitarian purposes such as blankets. Ömie barkcloths are still worn today by men, women and children during traditional ceremonies which can involve feasting and spectacular performances of singing, dancing and kundu-drumming. Nioge have been produced by Ömie women for gallery exhibitions since the cooperative was founded in 2004.
