For a work titled In Absence, this year’s National Gallery of Victoria architectural commission has a monumental presence. Composed of two tall, parallel cylinders sliced down the inside to create a dislocated figure 8, the sculptural piece, which opened to the public this week, is a collaboration between the architectural practice Edition Office and Indigenous artist Yhonnie Scarce.

Charred to a matte finish on the outside, the inside of each cylinder glimmers with thousands of hand-blown black glass yams – sculptural interpretations of a staple of Indigenous diets.