Less famous outside Australia than desert art, the art of Queensland - and particularly that of its northern tip - still deserves attention, if only for the profound originality of its production. Here, instead of canvases like those from Papunya, there are extraordinary masks, headdresses, and articulated dance accessories influenced by the proximity of New Guinea, with which the Aboriginal people of the region have always maintained contact, especially for trade.

Renowned for crafting articulated dance masks, the artist drew inspiration from these to create this dugong (a type of manatee), nicknamed the “sea cow,” which can be made to move. The sculpture also features the sea grasses that the creature feeds on.