Painting with fire is a new style of art introduced to Papua New Guinean artists by renowned artist from the United States of America, Betsy Eby.
While in PNG for a cultural exchange program through US Embassy’s Art in the Embassy program, Eby had the opportunity to meet with local PNG artists for three days, in the hope of creating cross culture conversations from one country of artists to the other.
She told EMTV News that she sees the need for contemporary art exhibition spaces for local contemporary artists.
Specialized in encaustic painting, which means to burn, Eby utilizes the technique of fusing together pigments, sap and wax by the flame of a torch.
Although she was doing most of the teaching, she also learned so much from the local artists as well. Eby was blown away by the natural talent and their capacity to learn her techniques so quickly.
She sees a big need for contemporary art exhibition space. Eby says that it should not only be the responsibility of the government to push these initiatives, but also the private and corporate sectors.
After 3 days in PNG, Betsy Eby and her husband Bo Bartlett, a realist artist, travelled to Honiara to run a similar program with local artists there.
