'carry'

2008
100 bilums, bamboo, wood, rubber & plastic objects, hydrogel, food dye.

The use of a metaphor is a powerful means of communicating a message. The bilum is used by the people of Papua New Guinea as a inexhaustible utilitarian object. to carry “items” for living. Representating its traditions and culture, the bilum is unable to hold back the scurge of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Australia’s closest neighbour, Papua New Guinea.

“AIDS is slowly but surely eating away the population in PNG and before long, half the population will be gone.”

Banare Bun (Chair of the PNG Parlimentary Committee on HIV/AIDS) 2005