Painting Item Number: 3527/18 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Rectangular piece of barkcloth with abstract linear and curvilinear designs painted across surface; done in black. Painting is divided into nine irregularly-shaped sections; five sections on left and four on right. All sections have designs of wavy and straight lines, with four or five straight lines protruding from them, throughout. A majority of the main lines end in a curl or solid triangle. Back of barkcloth is undecorated.
The barkcloth is made by men, beating a layer of tree bark until it is thin and pliable. Women paint the designs, which are often symbolic of their forested surroundings, using a mixture of charcoal and natural plant dyes.