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SUNA (Middle Ground) Installation Image

Eric Bridgeman and Haus Yuriyal

Biennale of Sydney

Biennale of Sydney
Sydney, Australia

"Suna is a word in Yuri language used to describe a middle ground, a safe and central location in a village ideal for gathering, and distant enough from potential conflicts at the borders. My home in the Wahgi Valley of Papua New Guinea was built in 2015, quickly becoming a meeting point for relatives, extended family from the Yuri Alaiku tribe of South Simbu, and local papa graun (custodial land owners). The round house became a site of exchange, organisation and learning for generations of men (a hausman or men's house) to help enrich our lives through artistic practice and traditional knowledge, while encouraging self-development and community participation.

As a young man, I have bonded closely with my cousins in the region for over a decade. Our Uncles provided a connection to our seemingly lost traditions and customs. My background as an artist in Australia first steered me towards our history of shield (kuman) making, and as Yuri men this became a starting point for our joint efforts to build something from the legacy of our tumbuna (ancestors), and together educate ourselves.

Our artistic projects have centred around the Kuman or Wahgi Shield, as the history of tribal warfare is one thing that has effectively brought us together. Our headquarters is a place of collaborative learning and expression where we tell stories, address conflict, bung (party), draw, paint, film, photograph and come together at times when it is most needed.

Eri Ari Ike describes a protected and sacred dwelling, or 'safe house'. Our kuman are created and stored in the hausman, and are only presented publicly at times when critical impact is seen as vital for survival (i.e a fight). Our latest iteration of 'shield paintings' line the exterior wall of the temporary house on Cockatoo Island, in their essence signalling the presence of my fellow group members back home in PNG, and deflecting potential threats from disturbing important activities occurring inside."

Haus Yuriyal is made up of at least 25 current members, ranging in ages and cultural backgrounds from Simbu, Jiwaka and Southern Highlands Provinces. As our projects have grown, a house rule of inclusiveness has strengthened us as a group over time. Collaborative works presented in Suna include recent side projects with a newly established women's weaving group led by my mother Veronica Gikope, and local music and video producers: Elizah Kippex (Kippex Productions), Jaycee Daniel (JD Productions), and Sil Bolkin (Galkope Audio Lab). The back catalogue of work provided by these musicians has helped connect me to my original headquarters in the Highlands for many years.

A custom Haus Piksa (picture house) provides a second venue for the housing of audio and visual works as part of the Suna complex. Kia Milin Iki refers to the concept of a 'spirit house' or haus tambaran, a cultural understanding of still and motion photography that interprets these mediums as a carrier of spirit. Original video works by Haus Yuriyal including Haus Man (2012) and The Fight (2010) will open the picture house, while allowing for open screening sessions and general use for the duration of the exhibition.

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  • Title: SUNA (Middle Ground) Installation Image
  • Creator: Eric Bridgeman and Haus Yuriyal
  • Date Created: 2020
  • Location Created: Cockatoo Island
  • Physical Dimensions: dimensions variable
  • Provenance: Commissioned by the Biennale of Sydney with generous support from Arts Queensland and the Australia Council for the Arts. Courtesy the artist; Milani Gallery, Brisbane; and Gallerysmith, Melbourne. Eri Ari Iki / Safe House, 2020; Kia Milin Iki / Haus Tambraran / Spirit House, 2020; Kuman / Shield Paintings by Haus Yuriyal, 2019-2020; Bilum / Kuman works by Gikope (Mothers and Sisters) of Haus Yuriyal, 2020. Haus Yuriyal Members: Enoch Aron, Mendi region, Southern Highlands Province; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Isaiiah Bepi, Kondi Kanem tribe, Wahgi Valley, lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Yuriyal E Bridgeman, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in AUS and PNG; Peter Dii, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in Western Highlands Province, PNG; Martin John, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Maiboi Kamun, Kondi Kanem and Yuri Alaiku tribes; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Mori Kaupa, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Steven Kaupa, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in Morobe Province, PNG; Philip Kaupa, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Simbil Ken, Kondi Kanem tribe, Wahgi Valley; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Moses Kirua, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; John Laif, Kondi Kanem tribe, Wahgi Valley; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Felix Michael, Kondi Kanem tribe, Wahgi Valley; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Sima Mote, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Mondo Munum, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; John Kokia Nulai, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Kale Nulai, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Paul Nulai, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Jason Taimel, Kondi Kanem tribe, Wahgi Valley; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Rowel Tala, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Joe Talpa, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in Western Highlands Province, PNG; Munum Tolpari, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Simbu Province, lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Philipai Yalkuna, Mendi region, Southern Highlands Province; lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG; Ai Yopa, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province, lives in Jiwaka Province, PNG Bilum/Kuman Works by Gikope: Veronika Gikope, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province PNG; lives in Queensland AUS; Alison Wel, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province PNG; lives in National Capital District, PNG; Mary Gagma, Wandike tribe, Gembogl, Simbu Province PNG; lives in Queensland AUS; Lydia Waim, Sigklu tribe, Kerowagi, Simbu Province PNG; lives in National Captial District, PNG; Saina Irai, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province; lives in National Captial District, PNG; Monica Paulus, Dinga tribe, Konoma, Simbu Province, PNG; lives in Queensland AUS; Betty Kalu, Yuri Alaiku tribe, Gumine, Simbu Province, PNG; lives in Simbu, PNG; Presila Moses, Wabag, Enga Province, PNG; lives in Jiwaka, PNG Original music and video, courtesy the artists; Elizah Kippex (Kippex Productions), Jiwaka Province, PNG; Sil Bolkin, (Galkope Audio Lab) Simbu/NCD, PNG; JC Daniel (JD Productions) Jiwaka Province, PNG; Eric Bridgeman and Haus Yuriyal; and Milani Gallery, Brisbane.
  • Type: installation
  • Rights: Biennale of Sydney
  • Medium: multimedia installation, round house, picture house, painting, bilum weaving, photography, video, audio
  • Edition: 22nd Biennale of Sydney (2020): NIRIN
Biennale of Sydney

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