Collection Online

Aposiibiiruka bey (Butterfly eggs)
1988

Medium
earth and natural pigments on sago palm petiole

Measurements
135.2 × 63.7 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
2001.399

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 butterfly eggs, a totem belonging to Nowiy Teeki clan. Two large black ovoid forms represent butterfly eggs (mbey), two red eyes inside the ovoid forms represent the ‘inside’ (wo) of the eggs.