HELEN’S GIFT OF CHISELS BROUGHT SOLACE TO PNG CARVERS

Tree Spirit
Simon Novep ‘Kambot Spirit’
Simon Novep ‘Kambot Spirit’

In 1998, an earthquake struck the northern coast of Papua. Three catastrophic tsunami waves followed devastating entire villages, killing at least 1,600 people and displacing more than 10,000. Helen Dennett, an Australian who taught in PNG for years, was so concerned for the people that she organised for Qantas to air freight chisels and carbon steel knives to the region. These tools were used to create the decorative elements on paddles and canoes. These knives can be sharpened endlessly and are used by women, too, for other work. Helen understood the strong need to create, to work, and to replace their heritage objects. This act of generosity indicates the depth of feeling creators have for their heritage, spirituality and identity. Having lived there for decades, Helen understood, and acted.

She says “My husband Paul and I were teachers on the banks of the Sepik River at the Angoram Community School. We were hoping to meet some of  the artists who lived there. Over time I got to know artists from the many different Sepik communities, often travelling over three hours by canoe. I gave artists paper and other materials to those interested. After a few years I asked them whether I could publish a book of Sepik designs mainly carved on paddles and shields. The hundreds of designs were published in two booklets, Mak Belong Sepik and Simon Novep of Kambot. Many of the originals are in the Art Gallery of NSW, viewed at: 

www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/?artist_id=nowep-simon.

Helen writes, “Simon Novep’s drawings mainly depict ancestor and spirit figures. He liked to work in black and white and said the colours such as red and yellow should only be used to highlight a picture. Important figures were shown in a formal static pose because he believed it is not for man to show these figures in action.”

One of my favourites is Simon’s drawing of a bird-headed spirit that lives in trees villagers use to make canoes. Before a tree is felled, a food offering is put at the base of the tree to warn the spirit to move to another tree. There’s something in that idea!

Mak Belong Sepik and Simon Novep of Kambot, originally published by Helon Highwater Press, Australia, 2012. For enquiries please email hdennett63@gmail.com

Carol Dance

This article is the first of a series of articles on PNG artefacts by Carol Dance