One panel of skateboard triptych by Dennis Nona
View this record on the National Museum of Australia's website
Sign in to save favourites.
- Type
- Artworks
- Materials
- Wood
- Collection
- Dennis Nona collection no. 2
- Accession number
- 2009.0014.0004.003
Description
The right panel of a triptych of wood skateboard panels with a laser cut image. The image depicts a figure sitting at the back of a canoe, with a face looking down from above and fish below. The artist's signature is lasered into the bottom right of the panel reading, 'Dennis Nona 4/10'. The panel has eight holes with four at the top and four at the bottom.
About the collection
The Dennis Nona Collection No 2. consists of four artworks created by renowned Torres Strait Islander artist, Dennis Nona. These include a white brass kuik (human skull) titled 'Byerb Ibaik', two etchings titled 'Pyban' and 'Kuik' and a laser cut laminated wood skate-deck triptych titled 'Lagan Wakkimthimin'. These works were all made as part of the 'Muluka Pyban' (Passing Down) exhibition and are based on histories, cultures and practices of the Torres Strait. Dennis Nona is from Badu Island in the Western Torres Strait. Known for his highly detailed linocuts, Nona pioneered a new visual language to share the ancient myths and stories of his culture. By linking many elements of a creation story with clan designs, Nona can tell a whole narrative and associate it with its place of origin with one image. In doing so Nona has made these stories accessible to a larger audience and contributed to the social and cultural renewal of Torres Strait Islander cultures. This collection represents important aspects of Torres Strait Islander objects and history that are often difficult to display and discuss including ceremonial practices and the trade of kuik (human skulls). The laster-etched skateboard decks also illustrate the way in which contemorary Torres Strait Islander artists, such as Nona, are experimenting with the use of new mediums in their art.
Read live from the Museum's Collection API (12/11/2026, 6:27:03 am). Record last updated by the Museum 2026-08-18. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.