ORIGINAL ART
FROM THE FIJI ISLANDS
BY MARIA W ROVA
INTRODUCING “LIFE IS FOR LIVING”
A HAND-PAINTED BARKCLOTH ART COLLECTION
BY MARIA W ROVA
Fijians are known for their warmth of spirit, and ability to enjoy with great passion the simple things in life. This painting is about the joie de vivre that is a special part of the Fijian experience, even when the going gets tough. It seeks to portray the gift of living fully in the moment, to celebrate with no holds barred in island-style merriment; a spirit of exuberance that is often missing from the fast paced life of urban worlds elsewhere…
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
TITLE: “Fire Within” ARTIST: Maria W Rova MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth SIZE: 60 x 60 cm (unframed)
TITLE: “Fire Within”
ARTIST: Maria W Rova
MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth SIZE: 60 x 60 cm (unframed)
Framing suggestion only: Artwork is available unframed.
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
TITLE: “Life Is For Living I”
ARTIST: Maria W Rova
MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth SIZE: 60 x 60 cm (unframed)
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth SIZE: 60
60 cm
suggestion only: Artwork is available unframed.
© Maria W Rova,
Sigavou Studios
Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved. TITLE: “Life Is For Living I ARTIST: Maria W Rova
x
(unframed) Framing
TITLE: “Life Is For Living II
ARTIST: Maria W Rova
MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth SIZE: 60 x 60 cm (unframed)
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
TITLE: “Life Is For Living II ARTIST: Maria W Rova MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth SIZE: 60 x 60 cm (unframed)
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
suggestion only: Artwork is available unframed.
Framing
TITLE: “Life Is For Living III
ARTIST: Maria W Rova
MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth SIZE: 60 x 60 cm (unframed)
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
Framing suggestion only: Artwork is available unframed.
TITLE: “Life Is For Living IV”
ARTIST: Maria W Rova
MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth
SIZE: 60 x 60 cm (unframed)
Fijians are known for their warmth of spirit, and ability to enjoy with great passion the simple things in life. This painting is about the joie de vivre that is a special part of the Fijian experience, even when the going gets tough. It seeks to portray the gift of living fully in the moment, to celebrate with no holds barred in island style merriment; a spirit of exuberance that is often missing from the fast paced life of urban worlds elsewhere
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
Framing suggestion only: Artwork is available unframed.
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
TITLE: “Life Is For Living V”
ARTIST: Maria W Rova
MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth SIZE: 60 x 60 cm (unframed)
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
Framing suggestion only: Artwork is available unframed.
MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth
SIZE: 60 x 60 cm (unframed, mounted on painted backing board)
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
TITLE: “Life Is For Living VI”
ARTIST: Maria W Rova MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth SIZE: 60 x 60 cm (unframed)
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
Framing suggestion only: Artwork is available unframed.
TITLE: “Life Is For Living VI”
ARTIST: Maria W Rova
MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth
SIZE: 60 x 60 cm (unframed, mounted on painted backing board)
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
TITLE: “Life Is For Living VII”
ARTIST: Maria W Rova MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth SIZE: 60 x 60 cm (unframed)
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
Framing suggestion only: Artwork is available unframed.
Framing suggestion only: Artwork is available unframed.
TITLE: “Life Is For Living I”
ARTIST: Maria W Rova
MEDIUM: Acrylics on traditional barkcloth
SIZE: 60 x 60 cm (unframed, mounted on painted backing board)
© Maria W Rova, Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd, all rights to images, concepts and text reserved.
“LIFE IS FOR LIVING” A SERIES OF BARKCLOTH PAINTINGS BY MARIA W ROVA FIRE WITIHIN “LIFE IS FOR LIVING I” “LIFE IS FOR LIVING II” “LIFE IS FOR LIVING IV” LIFE IS FOR LIVING III “LIFE IS FOR LIVINGV” “LIFE IS FOR LIVINGVI” “LIFE IS FOR LIVINGVII” SIGAVOU STUDIOS PO BOX 10244, NADI AIRPORT info@sigavou.art www.sigavou.art
MAKING BARKCLOTH
Barkcloth, or 'masi', as it is known in Fijian, is a time honoured Pacific tradition. It is a cream colored, fibrous paper hand crafted by island women, from the bark of Paper Mulberry trees (Broussonetia papyrifera). A treasured commodity at the heart of Fijian culture, barkcloth is still used in a wide variety of ceremonies, as symbolic gifts, as clothing, and as decorative wall hangings.
The masi we paint on comes from the small island of Vatulele in southern Fiji, home to my children’s grandmother. The aunts and cousins who make our masi are part of a long line of hard-working women who have passed the secrets and rituals involved in masi-making from one generation to the next, keeping a proud tradition alive. The money they earn through the sale of their masi is used to buy household essentials, school supplies, and boat fuel for the extended families that are part of their remote island community.
The process of masi-making is an environmentally friendly one. Masi trees grow in sustainable plantations where new shoots regenerate from the roots remaining after each harvest. Each piece of barkcloth goes through a laborious process of beating, soaking, and drying. Production involves sea water, sun, and sweat no chemicals!
Sigavou Studios has pioneered new approaches to the use of our local barkcloth, celebrating this ancient Pacific tradition while using it to create the vibrant, contemporary artwork we are known for.
Image and Text: © Sigavou Studios Ltd All rights reserved.SIGAVOU STUDIOS LTD
A family owned company founded in 1998, Sigavou Studios prides itself in its reputation as a source of high quality, unique artwork . Our flagship product is original art by company director Maria Rova. A look through our studio gallery will reveal the trademarks of Maria’s work: Eye catching , contemporary designs on pure silk and traditional Fijian barkcloth - all of them infused with Maria’’s love of Pacific Island life !
Maria was raised in the United States and Europe, but has lived and worked in Fiji for the past 30 years. Her art is inspired by Fiji’s tropical environment and the rich cultural traditions of her Fijian family. Dubbed “My Love song to Fiji” by the artist, Maria’s diverse, award winning creative work is sought after by corporate clients and collectors from around Fiji and across the world.
Apart from the women from Maria’s extended family who supply our hand crafted barkcloth, Sigavou Studios supports a team of young emerging artists and studio technicians to assist with the design and production of hand painted limited edition art on barkcloth and silk. Fiji style gifts and mementos such as hand painted barkcloth book marks and greeting cards are also part of our product range.
We look forward to sharing the warmth and vibrant colors of our Pacific Island home with you too!
Maria Rova Creative & Managing Director Sigavou Studios Pte Ltd Level 2, Waqavuka Rd, Namaka Industrial Estate PO Box 10244, Nadi, Airport, Fiji Islands Tel: (679) 935 0421 /7344217 mwrova@sigavou.art www.art sigavou.com With warm Fijian greetings from all of us at Sigavou Studios!