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Ukuboro (Waves)

Wachogii
Ukuboro (Waves)
 1972

Medium
earth and natural pigments on sago palm petiole

Measurements
132.8 × 65.3 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

Reproduction requests

Gallery location
Not on display

Artwork Details

Place/s of Execution
Bangwis village, Washkuk Hills, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea

Accession Number
2001.417

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 waves generated on the Sepik River by strong winds. Kwoma artists often anthropomorhise natural objects and give them human faces or features of faces. The artist identified two black roundels on either side of the midpoint of the design as the waves “eyes’. Two large black ovoid shapes at the top and bottom of painting depict the ‘source’ of the waves below the surface of the water. The waves are represented by the various U- or V-shaped lines or bands painted in different colours.

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