‘Kuman (shields)’ series 2024
Enamel paint on plywood
Courtesy of the artists and Milani Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane

‘Bopa’ series 2024
Carved tree fern (Cyathea angiensis) stumps with enamel paint
Courtesy: The artists and Milani Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane

Carved from the trunks of the Cyathea angiensis (tree fern), Bopa are sentinel like figures that are placed outside of dwellings in Jiwaka and Simbu Provinces as a form of protection. Exhibiting the distinctive aesthetic styles of individual members of Haus Yuriyal, these Bopa act as both security and an audience for the collective’s Kamkau Ike (Haus Toktok) 2024. Close inspection reveals the influence of tribal creation stories, ancestor figures, popular culture, local flora and fauna, as well as the collective’s playful sense of humour.