Description
It is said that the Wandjina spirit figure is the embodiment of the rain spirit and ancestor of the Woonambal, Ngarinyin and Worrora peoples of the north west Kimberley region of Western Australia where ancient artisans reproduced their images on the wall of caves and rock formations of the plateau areas along the coast. They are always pictured in ochres and clays from a frontal aspect with no mouths, large black eyes and a slit or beak like nose.
Ross depicts the Wandjina in the company of the emu and Kwiongs (Bradshaw figures) woolmara (turtle), banarr (busk turkey), oongood (snake), banai (goanna), tapping sticks and coolamons (bush tucker carriers).