Collection Online
Medium
earth and natural pigments on sago palm petiole
Measurements
133.1 × 71.4 cm
Place/s of Execution
Bangwis village, Washkuk Hills, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea
Accession Number
2001.412
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 geometric design is a representation of the metre-high choppy waves that can suddenly form on the Sepik River. The white V-shaped forms arranged in two columns on either side of the bark as the waves with their foamy crests. The column of black ovoid forms positioned on the design’s central axis depicts ‘the underwater forces’ that generate the waves. The dotted white lines outlining the black lozenges represent the long ribbons of yellowy foam that blow off the tops of the breaking waves and spread across the surface of the water.