Wandjina (Rain Spirit), 2002

natural earth pigments on linen

180 x 120 cm

Price on application — enquire

Provenance: Narrangunny Art, Kununurra, WA Cat no. N-2247-LK Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Narrangunny Art and a folio of 5 photographs of the artist creating the work
Artwork story: It is said that the Wandjina spirit figure is the embodiment of the rain spirit and ancestor of the Wunambal, Ngarinyin and Worrora peoples of the north west Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is here where ancient artisans reproduced their images on the walls of the caves and rock formations of the plateau areas along the coast and hinterland. They are always pictured, in ochres and clays, from a frontal aspect, with no mouths, and large black eyes and a slit or beak-like nose. The icons are usually depicted in a veil of dots representing the blood and water mix of man and animal. Gnarrangkani, (Dreamtime) mythology has it that the Wandjina emerged from the rain clouds, and will return in that manner, other versions suggest that Dumbi, the Owl, is the model. In this version, Lily has the iconic figure in two modes. On the left, we see it is multi-headed, with a baby at foot. In black, Wandjina is pictured engulfed in a mighty wet-season East Kimberley lightning storm, when he is surrounded by miriad thunderbolts.

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b. c.1937

natural earth pigments on linen

180 x 120 cm

Price on application — enquire

Provenance: Narrangunny Art, Kununurra, WA Cat no. N-2247-LK Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Narrangunny Art and a folio of 5 photographs of the artist creating the work
Artwork story: It is said that the Wandjina spirit figure is the embodiment of the rain spirit and ancestor of the Wunambal, Ngarinyin and Worrora peoples of the north west Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is here where ancient artisans reproduced their images on the walls of the caves and rock formations of the plateau areas along the coast and hinterland. They are always pictured, in ochres and clays, from a frontal aspect, with no mouths, and large black eyes and a slit or beak-like nose. The icons are usually depicted in a veil of dots representing the blood and water mix of man and animal. Gnarrangkani, (Dreamtime) mythology has it that the Wandjina emerged from the rain clouds, and will return in that manner, other versions suggest that Dumbi, the Owl, is the model. In this version, Lily has the iconic figure in two modes. On the left, we see it is multi-headed, with a baby at foot. In black, Wandjina is pictured engulfed in a mighty wet-season East Kimberley lightning storm, when he is surrounded by miriad thunderbolts.