Burnarri Anja (Many Birds) + Wandjinas: In partnership with Mowanjum Arts

4 - 26 April 2026

Overview

The Wandjina spirits are highly respected by the people of Mowanjum. They brought the law, culture and language. The people of Mowanjum believe that the first Wandjina was called Idjair, who lives in the Milky Way and is the father of all Wandjinas. The Wandjina Wallungunda (milky way) was Idair’s first son; he created the Earth and all life upon it. After he created the first human beings, the Gyorn Gyorn people, Wallungunda traveled back to Idjair to bring back more Wandjinas to give the Gyorn Gyorn people laws to live by. Today the Gyorn Gyorns are known to give our corroborree and became hunters, collectors and gatherers.
Gordon Barunga

Unique Wandjina figures and the many birds of the community of Mowanjum in the Far North Kimberley feature in our April exhibition. Wandjinas are said to have created the regions first human beings and all other living things. Responsible for law, culture and the weather, Wandjinas are most active as cloud spirits during the monsoon period, bringing rain to the entire Kimberley region.

Along with these evocative spirit figures, Mowanjum's artists delight in drawing a rich variety of indigenous bird life. With perceptive whimsy their small drawings and prints bring to life the emu, sacred owl, azure kingfisher, rainbow bee-eater, cockatiel, dollarbird, ground cuckoo shrike, grey butcherbird, black cockatoo and many more.