Apoleyar bird
1988
Medium
earth and natural pigments on sago palm petiole
Measurements
125.2 × 71.8 cm
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
Gallery location
Not on display
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Bangwis village, Washkuk Hills, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Accession Number
2001.407
Department
Pacific Art
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation
Physical description
This superficially ‘abstract’ and non-figurative painting is a representation of a type of small bird named Apoleyar, one of the artist’s clan totem. The bird’s torso is represented six times by each of the black ovoid forms arranged in a column in the centre of the design. It’s wings are similarly represented several times by the different pairs of the multicoloured triangular forms on each side of the design.