LABEL: 2022.014 THANAKUPI
By Adam Ford
May 2022
Beug, Crab, Flyfox, Fish 1982 is a deeply incised sphere marked by four ‘sides’ or orientations. Each side shows a simple outline of a different animal design. On the four sides are guiree (flying fox), mbyugh (mud crab) another design for crab, and a generic fish – what may be alandhak (barramundi). The visible side here is that of the flying fox. Thanakupi depicts flying foxes with their wings closed at the sides, as when they are hanging upside down. The large circles on the abdomen indicate that they are either cooked or going to be cooked. (When flying fox is cooked, the wings drop off and the stomach becomes engorged – a sign that the meat is ready to eat.)
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Beug, crab, flyfox, fish 1982
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