Jeffry Feeger’s art takes the pulse of PNG

Jeffry Feeger’s paintings are far from the traditional images of Papua New Guinea of the Asaro mud men and the colourful sing songs of the Highlands. He says he is tackling the issues of “a society in transition”.

Just 27 years old, this half German and half Papua New Guinean, whose mother is from PNG’s Gulf region, paints with a passion – with both hands and brushes. He put Papua New Guinea on the artistic map at the Shanghai World exhibition of 2010 by winning the ‘battle of the artists’; in which painters from all continents created live paintings for exhibition-goers.

His work is not only beautifully crafted and visually striking but also holds up a mirror to Papua New Guinean society. Issues he is concerned about include the marginalisation of rural people in the country’s fast growing economic development. Now one of Papua New Guinea’s best-known artists, he gave up his academic studies at the National Art School, part of the University of Papua New Guinea, to focus on painting and now also teaches art to schoolchildren.

‘Secret Garden ‘ addresses the high rate of child mortality in Papua New Guinea. A little girl innocently peers from behind a hibiscus flower which half covers her face like a mask. Recently sold, he donated half its earnings to ‘Susu mamas’, a PNG NGO whose focus is to reduce the country’s high rate of infant mortality, an issue close to his heart, having lost an infant son of his own.

‘Mona Lisa’

Jeffry Feeger ‘s own Papua New Guinean ‘Mona Lisa’ depicts a woman looking straight ahead against the backdrop of PNG’s Kokoda track, an arduous trekking trail which starts near Port Moresby. A red scarf crosses her neck   the symbol of HIV awareness.

‘Orchids Fusion’ is of beautifully reproduced pastel-coloured orchids .There’s an eye in one corner of the painting (re-created from a photo his son took of his own eye). Orchids, he says, could be seen as the symbol of the ‘beautification’ or current modernisation of Port Moresby. But red paint is trailed over the painting, a feature of many of his pieces. “Foreigners often see this as blood or a reminder of crime and suffering in PNG”, he says. The artists suggest it could also symbolise the red colour of ‘betel’ (Buai), the mild narcotic plant regularly chewed socially (with mustard root and lime powder) by many Papua New Guineans which stains both teeth and lips red.

Selling mainly through galleries in Australia and New Zealand, and a newly-opened one in Port Moresby, his work now fetches thousands of euros. He regrets, however, there is currently no national gallery in Port Moresby where its artists can display their work although individuals, such as French-born Nicolas Garnier, are passionate about promoting the country’s pool of talent. Garnier has launched a course in visual anthropology at the University of Papua New Guinea.

Jeffry Feeger says he would like to expand his creative talents into film which would allow him to develop the stories behind the faces he paints. An exhibition organised by the EU’s Delegation in PNG for ‘Europe Day’ on 9 May, under the theme of ‘seeing women differently’ featured a Jeffry Feeger painting of two females (Feeger’s nieces). The picture has a 3D photographic quality, capturing the luminous glow of Melanesian skin. It conveys pure contentment. “This is the future, we need to give love and respect to our children and support and educate them”, says Jeffry Feeger, inviting us to look beyond the image.

(1) Highlanders dressed in a variety of traditional tribal costumes and face paints perform songs and dance in formation.

Debra Percival