Christopher Ulutupu<br/> <em>The Fall</em> 2022 <!-- (video still) --><br /> two-channel colour video, sound<br /> 28 min 9 sec<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased with funds donated by The JTM Foundation, Katherine and James Murray and NGV Supporters of First Nations Art, 2025<br /> 2025.15<br /> © courtesy of the artist, represented by Jhana Millers Gallery <!--155727-->

Art of the Pacific

From the NGV Collection

NGV International

Level 2

View on map

15 Nov 25 – 4 Oct 26, free entry

Open daily 10am–5pm

This display brings together works by artists and designers from across the Pacific Region (including the Zenadth Kes/Torres Strait islands) and its diasporas. Spanning diverse periods, places and media – including photography, printmaking, painting, sculpture, video, fashion, barkcloth and body adornment – these works explore both contemporary innovations and the preservation and revitalisation of customary cultural practices. Seen together, these works affirm the vitality of Pacific art and its role as a powerful vehicle for storytelling, ceremony, resistance and the transmission of culture across generations.

NGV CollectionNGV InternationalPacific Art

Select works

Reuben Paterson<br/> <em>A Crucifixion</em> 2012 <!-- (recto) --><br /> glitter and synthetic polymer paint on canvas<br /> 195.1 x 300.1 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, NGV Contemporary, 2012<br /> 2012.335<br /> © Reuben Paterson, courtesy Gow Langsford Gallery, Auckland <!--104416--> Reuben Paterson
A Crucifixion
 2012 Michael PAREKOWHAI<br/> <em>The Bosom of Abraham #1</em> (2004) <!-- (recto) --><br /> screenprinted vinyl, metal, plastic, flourescent bulb, electrical components<br /> 131.0 x 21.5 x 7.3 cm<br /> ed. 5/7<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Gift of Chris Deutscher and Karen Woodbury through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program, 2018<br /> 2018.793<br /> © courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney <!--135109--> Michael PAREKOWHAI
The Bosom of Abraham #1
 (2004) Christopher Ulutupu<br/> <em>The Fall</em> 2022 <!-- (video still) --><br /> two-channel colour video, sound<br /> 28 min 9 sec<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased with funds donated by The JTM Foundation, Katherine and James Murray and NGV Supporters of First Nations Art, 2025<br /> 2025.15<br /> © courtesy of the artist, represented by Jhana Millers Gallery <!--155727--> Christopher Ulutupu
The Fall
 2022 Kebali<br/> <em>Diwaka (Drum)</em> (c. 1970) <!-- (front view) --><br /> earth pigments on wood, wallaby skin, bamboo, cane, resin<br /> 183.8 x 18.0 cm diameter<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Presented through The Art Foundation of Victoria by Elizabeth Pryce, Member, 2000<br /> 2000.275<br /> © the artist <!--67351--> Kebali
Diwaka (Drum)
 (c. 1970) Pauline-Rose Hago (Derami)<br/> <em>Odunaige ohu'o taigu taigu'e (Jungle vine and leaf pattern)</em> 2006 <!-- (recto) --><br /> natural pigments on nioge (woman's barkcloth skirt)<br /> 181.5 x 90.0 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased NGV Foundation, 2008<br /> 2008.77<br /> © the artist <!--85662--> Pauline-Rose Hago (Derami)
Odunaige ohu'o taigu taigu'e (Jungle vine and leaf pattern)
 2006 Gail Mabo<br/> <em>Tagai</em> 2017 <!-- (full view) --><br /> bamboo, twine, shells, polyurethane<br /> 94.5 x 102.3 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased with funds donated by the Nordia Foundation, 2017<br /> 2017.1221<br /> © Gail Mabo/Licensed by Copyright Agency, Australia <!--131028--> Gail Mabo
Tagai
 2017 Peter ROBINSON<br/> <em>Ki raro ki runga</em> (2025) <!-- (recto) --><br /> charcoal and ink on paper<br /> 150.6 x 104.1 cm (sheet)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Suzette Marie Chapple Bequest, 2025<br /> <br /> © Courtesy of the artist and Sutton Gallery <!--157623--> Peter ROBINSON
Ki raro ki runga
 (2025) Eric Bridgeman<br/> <em>Pig man/Pis mangi (Fish)</em> (2018) <!-- (recto) --><br /> enamel paint, synthetic polymer paint and cotton twine on plywood<br /> 168.8 x 59.8 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased with funds donated by D’lan Davidson, 2018<br /> 2018.1494<br /> © Eric Bridgeman, courtesy of Gallerysmith <!--138321--> Eric Bridgeman
Pig man/Pis mangi (Fish)
 (2018) Rion Savage<br/> <em>Sai (Fish fence)</em> 2017 <!-- (front view) --><br /> synthetic foam, natural fibre, spray paint<br /> 60.0 x 37.5 x 3.5 cm (variable)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2018<br /> 2018.18<br /> © Rion Savage <!--127436--> Rion Savage
Sai (Fish fence)
 2017 Fiona PARDINGTON<br/> <em>Portrait of a life-cast of Koe, Timor</em> 2010 <!-- (recto) --><br /> inkjet print<br /> 145.0 x 108.8 cm (image and sheet)<br /> ed. 1/10<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Bowness Family Fund for Contemporary Photography, 2011<br /> 2011.360<br /> © Fiona Pardington <!--100412--> Fiona PARDINGTON
Portrait of a life-cast of Koe, Timor
 2010 Aspasia Gadai (Yéwo)<br/> <em>Dahöru'e (Mountain design)</em> 2004 <!-- (recto) --><br /> natural pigments on nioge (woman's barkcloth skirt)<br /> 167.5 x 76.5 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, NGV Foundation, 2008<br /> 2008.72<br /> © the artist <!--85646--> Aspasia Gadai (Yéwo)
Dahöru'e (Mountain design)
 2004 John Wahgi<br/> <em>Shield</em> 2009 <!-- (full view) --><br /> natural pigments and synthetic polymer paint on wood, feathers, cotton, cane<br /> 176.7 x 37.0 x 11.0 cm (variable)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Gift of Ian Wamijo through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2013<br /> 2013.313<br /> <!--107156--> John Wahgi
Shield
 2009 Santa Cruz Islands, Temoto Province, Solomon Islands<br/> <em>Kapkap necklace</em> (early 20th century) <!-- (full view) --><br /> shell, earth pigment, fibre<br /> 18.3 x 20.9 x 0.7 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Gift of Mr James A. Davidson, 1979<br /> O123-1979<br /> <!--2041--> Santa Cruz Islands, Temoto Province, Solomon Islands
Kapkap necklace
 (early 20th century) Bong Sam<br/> <em>Temar ne ari (Ancestor spirit figure)</em> (c. 1995) <!-- () --><br /> earth pigments and synthetic polymer paint on clay and fibre, bamboo, shell, pig tusk, feathers<br /> 142.9 x 62.5 x 37.0 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased NGV Foundation, 2009<br /> 2009.24<br /> © the artist <!--88280--> Bong Sam
Temar ne ari (Ancestor spirit figure)
 (c. 1995) Waris District, West Papua<br/> <em>Sickness shield</em> (c. 1986) <!-- (recto) --><br /> earth pigments on sago palm petiole, fibre<br /> 71.6 x 30.9 x 4.9 cm<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Gift of Todd Barlin, 2009<br /> 2009.41<br /> © the artists <!--88633--> Waris District, West Papua
Sickness shield
 (c. 1986) Cessa Nakata<br/> <em>Frangipani land</em> 2017 <!-- (front view) --><br /> shells, painted bamboo, plastic, polyester raffia, wood, coconut shell, synthetic thread<br /> 68.0 x 29.0 x 4.5 cm (variable)<br /> National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br /> Purchased, Victorian Foundation for Living Australian Artists, 2018<br /> 2018.13<br /> © Cessa Nakata <!--127423--> Cessa Nakata
Frangipani land
 2017