In many Vylka’s paintings (such as Sea, Colony of Birds, Landscape with Birds), the Nenets creation myth — typical of some other cultures, too — is incorporated. According to it, the supreme god Num sends an aquatic bird (a loom or a duck) to the bottom of the World Ocean, so that it gets some mud and sand needed for creating land.

Num was living in the sky with his brother Nga. At the time, there was no land, nor mountains, nor people. Each brother was occupied with his own business. They had everything. But then Num got bored. He decided to make a man for himself. After the first man was made, Num couldn’t think of a place where to lodge him. At first, the man lived in the sky with the brothers. Then, Num decided to create a piece of land for him. Num took a long time thinking what materials he should use. There was only sea, and the land was under the water. Num didn’t know how to get the land from there. He pondered over that problem for a long time. Num’s brother Nga was occupied with his own things and wasn’t willing to go under the water to get some land. Num wasn’t willing to dive either: he couldn’t swim. Finally, he decided to give the task to the first man.

Num called for the man and told him: “You will go under the water and get some dirt. I will use it to make a big piece of land for you. You will have your own land.” The first man didn’t say anything in response. Then, Num turned the man into a loon. The loon flew towards the sea. It flew for a long time. Having reached the centre of the sea, it dived underwater. It reached the bottom three times. It was absent for three days. For the first time, it brought some sand in its beak, then some mud, then a piece of dirt. It gave all of it to Num. Num put together the sand, the mud and the dirt, formed a lump and threw it in the water. While he was working, he forgot all about the loon.

When the land was ready, Num went to his tent to rest. The loon was sitting on the water waiting for Num to turn it back into a man. A long time passed, but he wasn’t coming. The loon began to cry bitter tears. Then it built a nest and laid eggs. It threw one egg in the water for the sea master, as a way of thanks for letting it take some dirt. When the egg went down into the water, the loon felt sorry for its baby and started crying. From then onwards, the loon offers one of its eggs to the sea master. And every time, it mourns its baby. That’s why the loon’s cries are heard so often.