Yolŋu sculptor Guykuḏa Munuŋgurr presents a powerful demonstration of ancestral and totemic affiliations of marine life to family in the Yirrkala region. The exhibition involves a three-dimensional installation space of cultural knowledges extending beneath the surface of the ocean.

Many of the fish, sharks and crocodile that are represented in the work of Guykuḏa Munuŋgurr are depicted in the museum’s internationally significant saltwater bark paintings. Protecting Sea Country is an important message aligned with the museum’s commitment to the UN Ocean Decade.

Through this immersive installation, visitors are invited to reflect on the deep spiritual connections between Yolŋu people and the ocean, and the ongoing efforts to safeguard these traditions. Munuŋgurr’s work not only celebrates Indigenous knowledge but also calls for greater awareness and action to preserve marine environments for future generations.