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Uku ver ver (Waves)

Abunigi
Uku ver ver (Waves)
 1988

Medium
earth and natural pigments on sago palm petiole

Measurements
137.0 × 66.9 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
2001.396

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 the metre-high chopping waves that can suddenly form on large lagoons and on the Sepik river when strong winds start blowing. The choppy waves are represented by the zigzag red, black and yellow lines. The white lines depict the long ribbons of yellow foam that are blown off the crest of breaking waves and scattered in ribbons across the surface of the water. The white roundels arranged in a column in the centre of the design represent the powerful forces that generate the waves.

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