Australian Aboriginal spirit figure, Balangjangalan, carved and painted by Wainburranga (Paddy Fordham). b1932-d2006, The Balangjangalan Spirit is an ancestral spirit that has helped with the creation of Paddy's country.

The symbols on these figures represent ancestral events that occurred during the creation of his country. The events have been recreated with drawing on these figures. They are also seen in his bark paintings and on his hollow log coffins, such as those at the National Gallery of Australia.

Wainburranga was a Rembarrnga artist, living in the bush, He did not see a white person until moving to Maranboy . He lived at Maningrida in the 1960s. His work is held in major Australian collections.

This Balangjangalan was created ca.1980s. We acquired it from the highly respected Cooee Gallery in Sydney, NSW, in 1990. Provenance signed by Adrian Newstead on file. 90” tall, #AGW778