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303. Duogong (Sea Cow) Artist Unknown c. 1960 Groote Eylandt 8 x 16 Duogongs are large aquatic mammals found off of the northern coast of Australia. This bark demonstrates the artist's keen observation of nature as well as illustrating the Aboriginal penchant for placing significant elements of the natural world, it's plants and creatures, in a supranatural spiritual order. The herringbone patterns which describe the shape of the animal also place it in a spiritual context giving a sense of luminous power befitting a creature whose archetypal predecessor might be swimming up in celestial light of the Milky Way. |