Moses JOBO

  • Moses JOBO
© Moses Jobo
Sculptor / carver
Principal country concerned : Column : Fine arts

Moses was born at Point Tut on Erromango in 1964. He first came to Port Vila in 1982 to attend the art course at INTV. In 1985, he returned to Erromango and continued to paint and carve, becoming increasingly interested in the artistic traditions of his own island. Learning from his father and grandfather, a traditional composer, he began to feel a responsibility to perpetuate the traditions of his ancestors into the future, and at this time he began to explore the tradition of barkcloth making and painting. On moving back to Port vila in 1988, he gained more experience with textiles by hand-decorating T-shirts commercially, weaving tapestries and painting on canvas and board with acrylics. He joined the Nawita association in 1994, and in 1995, made and painted barkcloth for the first time. This piece was included in the inaugural exhibition of the new National Museum of Vanuatu which opened in November 1995. In 1996, Moses' first solo exhibition featured his barkcloth pieces, tapestries, paintings and now numerous murals, including one on the wall of the Centrepoint Market Place. In 1997, Moses went on an artistic exchange to Basel in Switzerland, exhibiting in the Spirit Blong Tedei exhibition that toured Europe in 1997. In 2000, he was a founding member of a new artists association - of Erromangan artist - called Nainao.

Moses Jobo and Juliette Pita have also formed another artists association, named Velikri Balam in memory their grandfather, a high chief of Erromango. As well as Jobo and Pita, the members of Velikri Balam include John Lovo, Pascal Lovo and Pita Lovo. This small association aims to lift up the customary arts of Erromango and to promote the talents of one close-knit family.

Partners

  • Arterial network
  • Media, Sports and Entertainment Group (MSE)
  • Gens de la Caraïbe
  • Groupe 30 Afrique
  • Alliance Française VANUATU
  • PACIFIC ARTS ALLIANCE
  • FURTHER ARTS
  • Zimbabwe : Culture Fund Of Zimbabwe Trust
  • RDC : Groupe TACCEMS
  • Rwanda : Positive Production
  • Togo : Kadam Kadam
  • Niger : ONG Culture Art Humanité
  • Collectif 2004 Images
  • Africultures Burkina-Faso
  • Bénincultures / Editions Plurielles
  • Africiné
  • Afrilivres

With the support of