Omar

Laura Lima
Omar, 2023
Raw cotton threads dyed by natural pigments and wire
Work: 195 x 92 x 24 cm

Omar is, in Guyanese folklore, an aquatic spirit with the body of a crab and a giant fish. The Omars like to eat rotten wood, sinking boats when they mistake them for floating logs. Legend has it that a “Peaiman” (shaman or sorcerer) carefully rolled up two pieces of wood used to light fires so that they would not get damp. Then he let himself be swallowed by an Omar. Peaiman found a lot of wood inside the monster's belly, and set it on fire. Omar felt a lot of pain, rose to the surface, belched the shaman and died. Raw cotton threads dyed by natural pigments (black acacia, indigo, beetroot, coffee, chamomile, carqueja, onion, marsh cane, avocado seed, mackerel, mate tea, black tea, clove vine, crajiru, turmeric, fennel, maitén, avocado leaves, cashew leaves, chestnut leaves, tobacco, hibiscus, iron mordant, sweet paprika, brazilwood, red cabbage, salt, seven sangria, senna, annatto, vinegar, red wine) and wire.