Collection Online
Medium
earth and natural pigments on sago palm petiole
Measurements
133.4 × 66.2 cm
Place/s of Execution
Bangwis village, Washkuk Hills, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Accession Number
2001.398
Department
Pacific Art
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased through the NGV Foundation with the assistance of The Thomas William Lasham Fund, Founder Benefactor, 2001
© Courtesy of the copyright holder
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation
Gallery location
Not on display
Physical description
The painting represents a butterfly, one of the artist’s clan totems. The insect is depicted sitting on a leaf with its wings outstretched as shown at the top, centre and bottom of the design. Three pairs of yellow triangular forms represent the insect’s wings, three roundels outlined in red and white depicts its eyes, the red U-shaped forms at the top and bottom of the design are different representations of the insect’s nose or proboscis.