Wandjina
$2,575.00
The Wandjina are ancestral spirits who created country, people and animals in the North West Kimberly before turning themselves into rock paintings. They are sometimes called “lightning man” or “rain maker” and every year they replenish water holes, creeks and rivers through making the wet season. The Wandjina can be vengeful if people break the law, by making savage storms and cyclones.
The predominant white colouring and shape of the Wandjina’s body represent water and clouds which are sometimes offset by the use of a red pigment, representing blood that shows us that the Wandjina are partly alive.
The Wandjina is closely associated with the Dumbi (owl) which can be seen in the depiction of his large eyes and Ungud (the rainbow snake), another creator of country and story which is often connected with rain and water holes. Other imagery which can be seen with the Wandjina include the Long Neck Turtle, who has a Wandjina shaped bone on the back of his head, the bark bucket which is used for carrying water, round stones which represent the caves in which Wandjina are painted and individual artists totem animals such as the bush turkey, emu and kangaroo.
Available
