Haus Yuriyal present a grand display of cultural expression

Haus Yuriyal, (left to right) Kuman (shields) series 2024; Bopa series 2024; Kalabus (prison) series 2024; Kalabus (prison) series 2024; Kamkau Ike (Haus Toktok) 2024; Yuri Alai Eagles (Ceiling shield paintings) 2024; Garpa/Ground Paintings series 2023 installed during 'The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art' / © The artists and Milani Gallery,Meanjin/Brisbane / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA

Haus Yuriyal, (left to right) Kuman (shields) series 2024; Bopa series 2024; Kalabus (prison) series 2024; Kalabus (prison) series 2024; Kamkau Ike (Haus Toktok) 2024; Yuri Alai Eagles (Ceiling shield paintings) 2024; Garpa/Ground Paintings series 2023 installed during 'The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art' / © The artists and Milani Gallery,Meanjin/Brisbane / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA / View full image

Haus Yuriyal is a collective of Papua New Guinean men who gather to work in a circular house traditional to the Jiwaka region of PNG’s Highlands. Its members originate from a number of locales, including Simbu, Jiwaka and Southern Highlands provinces, and many share a genealogical connection to the Yuri tribe from the mountainous areas of Simbu.

The group began as a coming together of men keen to learn and share cultural practices. A Haus created by family members for Brisbane-based artist Yuriyal E Bridgeman is the collective’s regular meeting place. In recent years, Haus Yuriyal has expanded to include Yuri women.

Watch | Haus Yuriyal collective at the Triennial

The vibrant fighting-shield designs customarily created by Yuri men within the Hausman (men’s house) provide the inspiration for Haus Yuriyal, who develop dazzling, individualised paintings with enamel, earthen pigments, paper, plywood and wool.

For the eleventh Asia Pacific Triennial, Haus Yuriyal present a grand display of their cultural expression and unity, encompassing a functional garden, boldly decorated architectural structures, kuman (shield) paintings, carved tree-fern sculptures, textiles and videos.

GOMA suna (peace garden) 2023–24

Veronica Gikope (collaborating artist), Yuri tribe, Simbu Province, Papua New Guinea/Australia b.1964 / Haus Yuriyal (artist collective) Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea, est. 2015 / GOMA suna (peace garden) 2023–24 / Soil, kaikei (food), plants, pathmaterials, sculptural elements in the Queensland Art Gallery Sculpture Courtyard / Commissioned for ‘The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ / Courtesy: Veronica Gikope and Milani Gallery,Meanjin/Brisbane / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA

Veronica Gikope (collaborating artist), Yuri tribe, Simbu Province, Papua New Guinea/Australia b.1964 / Haus Yuriyal (artist collective) Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea, est. 2015 / GOMA suna (peace garden) 2023–24 / Soil, kaikei (food), plants, pathmaterials, sculptural elements in the Queensland Art Gallery Sculpture Courtyard / Commissioned for ‘The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ / Courtesy: Veronica Gikope and Milani Gallery,Meanjin/Brisbane / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA / View full image

Watch | Veronica Gikope introduces the peace garden

Piksa Haus (Picture House) 2024

Haus Yuriyal, Papua New Guinea est. 2015 / Piksa Haus (Picture House) 2024 / Timber, plywood, iron, woven pit-pit (Miscanthus floridulus) blinds with black semi-gloss and matt stain and enamel / Haus Yuriyal 2024, Multi-channel video: 16:9, colour, sound, 30 minutes (looped), Tok Pisin, Yuri, English / Courtesy: The artists and Milani Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA

Haus Yuriyal, Papua New Guinea est. 2015 / Piksa Haus (Picture House) 2024 / Timber, plywood, iron, woven pit-pit (Miscanthus floridulus) blinds with black semi-gloss and matt stain and enamel / Haus Yuriyal 2024, Multi-channel video: 16:9, colour, sound, 30 minutes (looped), Tok Pisin, Yuri, English / Courtesy: The artists and Milani Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA / View full image

Kamkau Ike (Haus Toktok) 2024

Haus Yuriyal (artist collective) Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea, est. 2015 / Kamkau Ike (Haus Toktok) 2024 / Timber, plywood, iron, bilum, jerseys, flag, woven pitpit chains, woven pitpit (Miscanthus floridulus) blinds, stain, and enamel / Commissioned for ‘The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ / Yuriyal Bridgeman, Yuri tribe, Simbu Province, Australia/Papua New Guinea b.1986 / Yuri Alai Eagles (Ceiling shield paintings) 2024 / Enamel paint on plywood / 16 panels: 170 × 60 × 0.9cm (each) / Courtesy: The artists and Milani Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA

Haus Yuriyal (artist collective) Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea, est. 2015 / Kamkau Ike (Haus Toktok) 2024 / Timber, plywood, iron, bilum, jerseys, flag, woven pitpit chains, woven pitpit (Miscanthus floridulus) blinds, stain, and enamel / Commissioned for ‘The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ / Yuriyal Bridgeman, Yuri tribe, Simbu Province, Australia/Papua New Guinea b.1986 / Yuri Alai Eagles (Ceiling shield paintings) 2024 / Enamel paint on plywood / 16 panels: 170 × 60 × 0.9cm (each) / Courtesy: The artists and Milani Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA / View full image

Haus Yuriyal (artist collective) Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea, est. 2015 / Kamkau Ike (Haus Toktok) 2024 / Timber, plywood, iron, bilum, jerseys, flag, woven pitpit chains, woven pitpit (Miscanthus floridulus) blinds, stain, and enamel / Commissioned for ‘The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ / Yuriyal Bridgeman, Yuri tribe, Simbu Province, Australia/Papua New Guinea b.1986 / Yuri Alai Eagles (Ceiling shield paintings) 2024 / Enamel paint on plywood / 16 panels: 170 × 60 × 0.9cm (each) / Courtesy: The artists and Milani Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA

Haus Yuriyal (artist collective) Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea, est. 2015 / Kamkau Ike (Haus Toktok) 2024 / Timber, plywood, iron, bilum, jerseys, flag, woven pitpit chains, woven pitpit (Miscanthus floridulus) blinds, stain, and enamel / Commissioned for ‘The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’ / Yuriyal Bridgeman, Yuri tribe, Simbu Province, Australia/Papua New Guinea b.1986 / Yuri Alai Eagles (Ceiling shield paintings) 2024 / Enamel paint on plywood / 16 panels: 170 × 60 × 0.9cm (each) / Courtesy: The artists and Milani Gallery, Meanjin/Brisbane / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA / View full image

Each of the shield designs in Garpa/Ground Paintings series 2023 (illustrated) were completed in July 2023, made with natural pigments and ochres of red, yellow, black, white, brown and blue. The works feature references to Arebaa — from the Yuri words for ‘sun’ (are) and ‘moon’ (baa) — in motifs and colours; for example, where the dominant colour is white, this is a tribute to the moon. Some of the artworks also feature faces, skulls, birds and abstracted landscapes that highlight Haus Yuriyal’s intricate connection to land and nature, as well as expressing their strong brotherhood and ancestry.

Garpa/Ground Paintings series 2023

Haus Yuriyal (artist collective) Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea, est. 2015/ Garpa/Ground Paintings series 2023 / Organic material on paper / Purchased 2024 with funds from Tim Fairfax AC through the QAGOMA Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Haus Yuriyal / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA

Haus Yuriyal (artist collective) Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea, est. 2015/ Garpa/Ground Paintings series 2023 / Organic material on paper / Purchased 2024 with funds from Tim Fairfax AC through the QAGOMA Foundation / Collection: Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art / © Haus Yuriyal / Photograph: C Callistemon © QAGOMA / View full image

Edited extract from the publication The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, QAGOMA, 2024

Asia Pacific Triennial
30 November 2024 – 27 April 2025
Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
Brisbane, Australia
Free entry

Asia Pacific Triennial Extended
View GOMA suna (peace garden) until 4 May
View the works at QAG until 5 May

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