Dugongs have always fascinated me. As a traditional food of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, they are important to our culture, stories and way of life. In this painting, I have captured the baby dugongs frolicking in the water. The movement of the water is depicted as they swim over the sea grass eaten by adult dugongs.
 
Female dugongs are not prolific breeders, giving birth to one calf at a time with three to seven years in between birthing. Baby dugongs drink milk from their mother’s teats and stay close by for one to two years. Various patterns on the top and bottom of the painting are taken from the sea and plant life in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
 
Height: 34cm
Width: 46cm