Horace Wikmunea belongs to the Aboriginal community of Aurukun, located at the northern tip of Queensland in a tropical region. Its inhabitants are known as the Wik people, who have gained recognition for their uniquely styled sculptures.

The works collected in the early 20th century had a ritual function and were not intended for sale: they were left to disintegrate outdoors after ceremonies. Even into the early 1980s, elders told women and children that the sculptures were not made by human hands, but were in fact real totemic beings.

It was around that time that some pieces began to appear on the art market, though they remained unpainted to strip them of their sacred powers, which were believed to be dangerous to the uninitiated. Gradually, the Wik people agreed to release painted sculptures, beginning with donations to the South Australian Museum, which exhibited them in Australia, the United States, and Japan. The strong public and critical interest in the works from Aurukun encouraged the Wik to create artworks for the market, both to gain cultural recognition and to support their community.

With this sawfish sculpture, the artist pays tribute to a species native to Australian waters that is now endangered.

This work comes with certificates of authenticity from the Wik and Kugu Arts and Craft Centre (ref. HW134 WK09) and from the gallery Arts d’Australie • Stéphane Jacob, a recognized expert in Aboriginal art.