WAC503/24 – APRIL NULGIT

– 60 x 60 cm

Within my artwork I have depicted the spirit of the Wandjina that is located within the middle of my art piece –  On a night stary back-drop with the full moon laying within the background’s right-hand corner. It appears the the Wandjina sits amongst the clouds within the high sky.

The Wandjina is known to be many things, such as being a creator of the land, it is sacred as well as being spirit. The spirit of the Wandjina is also known for creating big rains + storms (rain maker) during the wet season ” this is what I like about the Wandjina”.

Throughout the Western Kimberley region paintings of these sacred spirits are found etched upon the inside walls of caves surrounding the area from a very long time ago, from what I have learnt there are 3 traditional tribes that surrounds the Kimberley region, All of which see’s the Wandjina as ONE ancestral being and creator of the land and animals. But each tribe also has their very own unique Wandjina’s, never the same spirit”

These 3 tribes are known to be: >Wunumbal >Ngarinyin >Worrorra 

Apart of My Aboriginal identity comes from both mother and fathers Aboriginal background, My father comes from Derby which is located within the Western Kimberley region, he comes from the clan/group known as Ngarinyin, whereas my mother comes from East Kimberley region and is known to be a Gija women. Because of my father’s connection from that region (Derby) I am also apart of the Ngarinyin tribe- this gives me the right to paint the sacred beings of the “Wandjina’, that I have portrayed here within my artwork.

Anyone who does not belong to any of these 3 tribes cannot paint the Wandjina at all.