Djambuwal (Thunderman) story

This is one of the earliest documented examples of a collaborative work undertaken by indigenous artists. Tthe Djapu leader Wonggu painted it with three of his oldest sons in September 1942 at the base camp of the Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit (NTSRU) at Garrthalala in eastern Arnhem Land. Working in a clockwise direction from the top left, the sections were painted by Wonggu, Natjiyalma, Mawunpuy and Maama respectively; and these young men were all members of the NTSRU in Section 3 led by Natjiyalma. The work is also unique in that it was the only painting documented in its creation by collector Donald Thomson during that time. The major motif in this work is a grid pattern that represents mangan or monsoonal clouds. Each square is infilled with cross-hatching with those having more concentrated patterning being 'heavy clouds' while others depict those that are 'finished' having released all their rain. This is a distinct Djapu minytji and sits in stark contrast to the triangular motif used by Yirritja clans to similarly represent these storm clouds. The minytji relates to the story of the wangarr called Djambawal, also known as the Thunderman. He appears in three sections of this work surrounded by dotted areas. These are rain that Djambawal causes to fall when he strikes the mangan with his baladj or fighting club. In the bottom right here his baladj can be clearly seen beneath an image of Djambawal and heavy rain clouds.