Dapeni Jonevari (Mokokari) Papua New Guinean, Ömie, b. 1949

"I paint from my observations of the mountains and forests and creatures. Dreams give me inspiration... I paint to record traditional Ömie waus for dancing performance and feasting ceremonies.”

Dapeni was one of the pioneering senior master painters of Ömie Artists and began painting since the establishment of the cooperative in 2004. Her mother was Yéwo and her father was John Koré, both Sahuoté clanspeople from Budo village. She was born two years before the eruption of Huvaimo (Mount Lamington) and grew up at Budo and Jiapa villages. As a young girl Dapeni was taught to paint traditional Ömie barkcloth designs by her aunts at Budo Village. Primarily, Dapeni painted soru'e (tattoo designs) she saw on her grandfather's body and was held in high regard as the pre-eminent authority of these sacred body designs. As a Duvahe (Chief) she also painted uehorèro (her own wisdom), confidently reimagining her inherited repertoire of customary Ömie designs through sophisticated, progressive compositions. Since 2002, Dapeni has been teaching her daughter, Dyna Kimari, as well as her daughter-in-law, Diona Jonevari, to paint traditional Ömie barkcloth designs.