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Nguk-al yotam-an Puulwuya! (Lots of owls in the tree!)

Vernon Marbendinar
Nguk-al yotam-an Puulwuya! (Lots of owls in the tree!)
 2022

Medium
earth pigments and synthetic polymer paint on Milkwood (Alstonia actinophylla)

Measurements
226.0 × 101.5 × 59.7 cm (installation)

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased with funds donated by Barbara Hay and the Hay Family, 2022
2022

Reproduction requests

Gallery location
Gallery 3
Ground Level, NGV Australia

 

About this work

Vernon Marbendinar’s milkwood carvings acknowledge his ancestors and reflect his connection to Country near Aurukun in Far North Queensland. Speaking about Nguk-al yotam-an puulwuya! (Lots of owls in the tree!) in 2022, Marbendinar explained:
‘These owls belong to my family on my father’s side. Nguk [owl] like to sit on trees as one family. They wait for something to move so they can have dinner. They always hunt at nighttime. Minh nguk is a totem for my people the Wik Mah’an. They are a significant part of ritual life and belong to a Story Place near Bull Yard Station. Nguk is there for all of us. It is our puulwuy, our totem’.

Artwork Details

Place/s of Execution
Aurukun, Queensland

Accession Number
2022.874

Department
First Nations Australia

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