BARKCLOTH ART FROM SIGAVOU
BOOKMARK COLLECTION
BOOKMARKS
FROM SIGAVOU
Hand-painted on natural barkcloth, Sigavou bookmarks have travelled the world as small, brightly-colored mementos of Fiji’s beauty and unique culture. Designs are drawn on to the textured barkcloth by our artists using metallic gold paint. There are 20 motifs to choose from in this collection, each one inspired by Pacific island life: Surging waves, tribal symbols, fish, cane fields, coral, jungle leaves, sunset beaches, and more! Each design is available in a choice of four background colours:
BROWN
BLUE
RED
GREEN
Bookmarks are presented on black backing card, encased in clear cellophane. Packaged bookmarks measure 21 x 7 cm – ideal to insert into a standard envelope when mailing to friends, family, or business clients! The label at the back of our bookmarks can be customized with a client’s logo for orders of 200 units or more.
FRANGIPANI BKM1-FR
MASI KESA BKM6-MK
OCEAN WAVE
BKM2-OW
VONU
BKM7-VO
BARKCLOTH BOOKMARKS FROM SIGAVOU
SUNSET BEACH BKM3-SB
PALM LEAF BMK4-PL
TWIN FISH BMK5-TF
JUNGLE VINES BKM8-JV
DANCERS BMK9-DA
WILD GRASS BMK10-WG
SIGAVOU STUDIOS PO Box 10244, Nadi Airport, Fiji Islands sigavou@connect.com.fj www.art-sigavou.com Image and Text: © Sigavou Studios Ltd: All rights reserved.
DOUBLE FISH BKM11-DF
STARFISH BKM16-SF
CANE FIELD
BKM12-CF
SAIL BOATS
BKM17-SBT
BARKCLOTH BOOKMARKS FROM SIGAVOU
KAKALA FLOWER BKM13-KF
PASIFIKA BMK14-PA
CORAL BMK15-CO
SEA VIEW BKM18-SV
MILKY WAY BMK19-MW
FOREST LEAVES BMK20-FL
SIGAVOU STUDIOS PO Box 10244, Nadi Airport, Fiji Islands sigavou@connect.com.fj www.art-sigavou.com Image and Text: © Sigavou Studios Ltd: All rights reserved.
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: Š 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 25 years. Her art is inspired by Fiji’s tropical environment and the rich cultural traditions of her Fijian family. However, Maria’s international background gives her the added edge of feeling at home in a variety of cultures; her artwork 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 employs 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!
With warm Fijian greetings from all of us at Sigavou Studios!
Maria Rova Creative & Managing Director Sigavou Studios Ltd PO Box 10244, Nadi, Airport, Fiji Islands Tel: (679) 672 0717 Cell: (679) 935 0421 sigavou@connect.com.fj www.art-sigavou.com