Lily Karadada
the last of the great Wandjina painters


Opening: 6pm Thursday 14th of April 2011
April 14th - May 14th



Lily was born circa 1937 around the Prince Regent River area in East Kimberley. From her father's country, Woombangowangoorr, she went with her mother and family to Mitchell Plateau. She married Jack Karadada and they eventually settled in Kalumburu, where she still lives today with her large extend family, many of which are also artists. Lily’s style is instantly recognizable and she is the last of the great Wandjina painters.

About the Wandjina
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. Wandjina figures are seen decorating the walls of caves in the plateau areas along the North Kimberley coast and are unique to this region. They are almost always pictured using red ochre, from a frontal aspect, with no mouths, large black eyes and a slit or beak like nose. They are usually depicted in a veil of dots that represent the blood and water mix of man and animal. Dreamtime mythology has it that the Wandjina emerged from the clouds and will return in that form. The Wandjina can be seen in the passing of the dry season, to 'the wet' in the form of vast billowing white clouds. In the late afternoon the terrible rumbling of thunder and glow of lightning within the vast billowing clouds overhead are what top-enders get most excited about. It means that the long, hot build up of heat and humidity will break and once again the rain cycle will commence. In days when Aboriginal people were ruled by spirits of the land, this 'build up' was the source of ceremonial tribute, representing not only rebirth and growth, but also the cruelty of the storm and flood. Regarded both as a fertility spirit and Woongurr, powerful and wise leader. It is suggested that Wandjina is in the process of transformation from one physical entity to another.