Apokibi (Flying fox)
1973
Medium
earth and natural pigments on sago palm petiole
Measurements
137.0 × 64.0 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
2001.393
Department
Pacific Art
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Vizard Foundation
Physical description
The painting depicts a flying fox (Apokibi) in an abstract and schematical form. The four black pointed ovals outlined in white arranged in a column in the centre of the design are different representations of the flying fox’s trunk or torso. The red and yellow triangular forms outlined in white on two sides of the of the bark represent its outspread wings. The small hook forms inside each of the black roundels on the outer edges of the designs depict the powerful claws (the tips of greatly elongated fingers) that proturde from the leading edge of the mammal’s membranous wings.