On the shores of Sydney Harbour and throughout the sandstone region around this city, the Aboriginal people created rock art on the flat stone surfaces. Often this art depicts the animals and fish of the region as well as the people. It also consists of spirit figures and their footprints. These supernatural beings are recognisable by special features, such as only having one leg.

In the Manly area there is a figure of a very large kangaroo, which may represent an extinct type of megafauna, last seen in the area several thousands of years ago.

The beautiful and lively art of the original inhabitants of Sydney is little recognised by the present population. Some rock platforms with unique artworks have garages built on them. This is not surprising in a place where some of the best views of the ocean are used for parking. Others are covered with soil to grow lawns.

Whales are commonly depicted in rock engravings and are usually engraved to scale. To recognise the creature it is necessary to walk around its outline in the morning or evening sun, when the shadows are most distinct.

The latest exhibition at the dotAtelier exhibition space is inspired by the whale engraving in the Manly area in the Sydney Harbour National Park.