Florence Jaukae Kamel
Florence Jaukae Kamel is a Pacific Islander artist from Papua New Guinea. She is the founder of Goroka Bilum Festival and an internationally recognised fibre artist. She sits at the forefront of wearable art with her ideas and vision quickly surpassing everyday wear. Known as Bilum Meri, she is well recognized and loved for her commitment to the industry. Over the last 16 years, she has supported over 1000 women to access a market for their work through the Goroka Bilum Festival and she has trained more than 900 women in basic and advanced Bilum weaving in remote and urban communities across the Papua New Guinea mainland. Florence’s work is held in collections across the world.
Artist statement
The dress is woven from black synthetic fibre to represent the black people. The shells are symbolic of the Island from the sea, their white colour reflecting sugar crystals. By covering the face with the veil, I draw attention to the beauty of the people that was not exposed but hidden from everyone. Only their strength was used in the sugar plantations. Feathers symbolise trust, honour, strength, wisdom, power, and freedom. The South Sea Islanders had all these qualities and used them to build the sugar plantations in Queensland. When a feather lands at your feet, it is traditionally seen as a positive omen and that their calls have been heard and answered. In addition, the black feathers symbolise the negative energy that was used on the South Sea Islanders.