Coolamon

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Lily Karadada

Lily Karadada with members of her family

Object Type:
Wandjna (Rain Spirit) - Bark coolamon

Registration Date:
2002

Provenance:
Wyndham, Western Australia

Artist:
Lily Karadada

Language:
Pitjarintjin/Woonambal

Additional Information:
Lily Karadada was born in her father's country in the land of the Pitjarintjin people, Prince Regent River, on the Mitchell Plateau, Western Australia. It is said that the Wandjina spirit figure is the embodiment of the rain spirit and ancestor of the Wunambul, Nagarinyin and Worrora peoples of the northwest Kimberley region. Representation of this spirit are found in caves and rock formations of the area, where large images of the Wandjina are painted using ochres and clay, usually from a frontal aspect, with no mouths, large black eyes and a slit or beak-like nose.

Lily specialises in painting the Wandjina and on this coolamon she has painted three Wandjina spirits using ochre and acrylic paints, in a veil of dots representing the rain generated by the spirit and the blood/water bond between man and nature.

Along with her art production, which includes painting and carving, Lily also plays an important role in her community as a respected elder, passing on the Wandjina story on to the younger Pitjarintjin/Woonambal generations.

Special thanks to Lily Karadada, her community and Narrangunny Art Traders for the use of the images.