The Wandjina Dreamtime Story of Sacred Rainmakers

Wandjina is considered to be one of the most significant and revered characters found in the Dreamtime stories of the Australian Aboriginals. These are the main spirits that are part of the mythology and culture of the Ngarinyin, Worrora and Wunambal people from the Kimberley area of Northwestern Australia. The Wandjina are termed as rainmakers, creators and keepers of the balance of nature, they represent the juncture, the interdigitation between the physical world, natural and spiritual worlds.

For Aboriginal people, the Wandjina do not simply express themselves in mythical stories – they are spirits, great creators of the world and people, and the providers of seasons in our world. All of these spirits are in charge of the rain and the weather to maintain the existence of the land and the dwellers. They also implement laws that help to balance the world and help people learn lessons on respect, responsibility, and respecting nature.

As the icon of the Kimberley Aboriginal peoples, the Wandjina is observed in the customs, paintings, and beliefs of the region's people. For this reason, they give us an insight into the Aboriginal beliefs and knowledge concerning the relationships between the spirits, elders or ancestors, the totemic animals and the land.

What is the Meaning of Wandjina?

The role of Wandjina transcends their representations as rain and cloud deities; they are also considered the source of life and ultimate guardians. It is for this reason that these spirits are associated with the Rainy Season as they make rain to enhance the supply of soil, rivers, and waterholes. The cycles of the phase of rain and the emergence of renewal are the most important sources of life for human beings and animals in the Kimberley region which is characterized by desert geography.

The Wandjina are regulators of forces and actions between the people, the natural world, and the spirit world. Their existence makes people aware of how they need to coexist with nature. The Wandjina is also credited for other aspects of the Kimberley peoples’ lifestyle, customs, and code of behavioural conduct observed in today's communities.

In art, Wandjina is represented by unique attributes that are associated with rain control and are believed to be spirits. Their images are revered and imbued with various social meanings and are usually linked to spirituality as they mediate between physical and supernatural realms.

The Creation Story

The Dreamtime stories of the Wandjina tell of their role as creators of the earth, shaping the land, creating life, and establishing the laws that govern all existence. One of the most significant legends involves Idjair, the first Wandjina, and Wallungunder, who is credited with creating humans and the natural world. These powerful spirits worked together to establish order and balance, ensuring the survival of the land and its people.

The Wandjina are also the supervisors of natural and moral laws and order, more so of natural penalties for disobeying these laws. They are very powerful, they use natural calamities such as floods, lightning, cyclones and the like to punish anybody who violates their laws or who tries to upset the natural order of things. Such stories act more like fables that aim to prevent people from cross-surrenders which leads to some predefined consequences concerning the disrespect of the environment and spirits.

Those legends teach that Wandjina represents creation and culture which are more or less interdependent with nature and that could still be applied to present-day society.

Wandjina Art: Timeless Legacy

The surviving artistic representations depict the Wandjina in a way that illustrates their immense importance to the people. The painting of Wandjina is typical for the Kimberley region: the paintings were created in the sheltered caves and overhangs and are dated to be approximately 4 thousand years old. These artworks depict the relationship between the Wandjina spirits and the territory, rain, and rituals.

The Wandjina are depicted with white faces, large, round black eyes, and no mouths. This distinctive imagery is rich in symbolism. The absence of mouths, for instance, is often interpreted as a representation of their immense power, making spoken words unnecessary. Another interpretation suggests that it prevents the rain from falling endlessly. The Wandjina are also often surrounded by red halos, with dots and lines radiating from their bodies, symbolizing rain, storms, and the cycles of renewal.

These images are not static; they are alive with spiritual energy. The Aboriginal custodians of these sites regularly repaint the Wandjina images during rituals to maintain their life force and ensure the continued presence of the spirits. This tradition reflects the deep spiritual connection between the Wandjina, the land, and the people who honour them.

Artists Who Create Wandjina Art

Currently, Aboriginal artists and communities have kept alive the Wanjina art tradition for the continuity of the sacred art form. For example, the Mowanjum community continue Wandjina's art legacy in the modern era with great importance.

These artists not only paint over the pictures of Wandjina on the rocks but also produce similar artwork on bark and canvas for sale or display at cultural celebrations. As much as modern Wandjina art is showcased to all, the artworks are always done with the cultural aesthetics regulator’s consideration. To make representations of the Wandjina, one has to be the descendant of the clan to which the Wandjina is affiliated and only through permission from the elders.

Many famous artists, like Alec Mingelmanganu, Charlie Numbelmoore and Jack Karedada contributed to making Wandjina a global art that is appreciated and has deep religious meaning. Exhibition of their works done in museums and galleries across the globe has preserved the richness of aboriginality and its relation to nature.

Cultural Significance

The Wandjina are not just simple spirits, they signify rain, regeneration and the existence of life as well. This association is accompanied by their responsibility for maintaining the land and all the resources found in it during the Wet Season. In terms of art, and particularly in symbolic representation the Wandjina speaks through ceremonies, storytelling, dances, and headdresses where people pay homage to the Wandjina as rain makers and creators.

For the Ngarinyin, Worrora, Wunambal and Mowanjum people, the Wandjina are considered to be the traditional icons of these people as well as their spirits. It is to the clans that art and the ceremonies of the Wandjina provide the link between the creative present and the origin of the clans, and the legends of the creation period remain alive.

Wandjina in Modern Times

Today Wandjina art is presented in exhibitions, museums as well as in other cultural contexts. These artworks have spread all over the world now, but still, they have a connection with the spirit and cultures of Aboriginal societies.

To this date, the stories of the Wandjina can be still told around consisting of cultural works created by contemporary artists and communities of the Kimberley region. At the same, the significance of such artworks is in teaching the significance of conserving and valuing the environment as well as natural rhythms.

Discover the Spirit of Wandjina Today with Mandel Aboriginal Art Gallery!

For those interested in Wandjina art and the cultural connection it has, visit us at Mandel Aboriginal Art Gallery. Here, you can see genuine Wandjina paintings, and familiarize yourself with the sacred lore and the art connected with it. Learn about the link between Wandjina, the land and the people who worship them in this documentary. Take your time to explore the Mandel Aboriginal Art Gallery now to learn more about the plight of the Wandjina people.