Description
Kite = mat
Karoro = coloured
The coloured mats from the Gulf of Papua New Guinea
Made by Horeve Mea
What are the dimensions
-
Height: 960cm
-
Width: 1800cm
The kites are traditional used for sleeping, eating and resting on. Some will be treasured and rolled out for guests. Some will be traded for goods. Some will be brought for bride price, death feast and gifts.
What are they made from?
They are made from reeds found in the river, which grow in abundance in the village. They are harvested, stripped, dried, dyed and woven by the women usually in the evening when they are soft and the daily work of gardening , fishing and looking after children is done. They generally take between 4-6 weeks to make. They are made by their hands.
Care
The amazing thing about these fishing line ve'a - bilums is the longevity. Hasu has some in her collection that are over 60 years old.
Our sisters in the village would say use OMO and a scrubbing brush! You can simply soak the ve'a in a bucket of water with some washing liquid or powder, give them a scrub and they will come up beautifully.
Design
Each Ve'a tells a story. Old and new language that tell of time, place, people and lands. The story of Papua New Guinea.