Birrundudu Drawings an 'absolutely monumental archive of Aboriginal knowledge'

Giovanni Torre Published February 17, 2026 at 11.30am (AWST)

arts

Birrundudu Drawings. Image: Giovanni Torre, courtesy of The Berndt Museum.

This article includes the names of people who have passed away.

In 1945, sixteen Aboriginal men working at Birrundudu Station created 810 crayon drawings, commissioned by anthropologists Ronald and Catherine Berndt. The men documented their extensive knowledge of Country, ancestral creation, history, and ceremonies of the region.

Now open at the University of Western Australia's Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, the Birrundudu Drawings exhibition showcases over 100 of these works on paper, none of which have been exhibited before, as well as a contemporary response by Jimmy Tchooga.

The exhibition, presented with The Berndt Museum with support from The Berndt Research Foundation and Warlayirti Artists as part of Perth Festival, is the result of years of re-engagement with descendants and communities connected to the original artists, who have helped bring the stories and cultural significance of these drawings back to life.

*An untitled work by Nyininy and Jaru man Splinter Dardayi Yani Jangala depicting Jujinjamara. Image: Giovanni Torre, courtesy of The Berndt Museum.*

The exhibition also marks the 50th anniversary of the Berndt Museum, an Indigenous-led cultural institution that cares for a vast collection of works of art, ancestral objects and archives.

Artists featured are: Bullwaddy Warlnu, Kampiny (Quartpot) Jakamarra, Kalangka (Jackie) Janama (Japanangka), Kulminy (Tommy) Jakamarra, Lariyari (Mick) Japangarti, Lefthand (Jampu) Jungarrayi, Muluntu (Billy) Julama, Mungalyurru Jampijinpa, Nipper Wanapiti Japaljarri, Paddy Padoon Jangala, Porgi Ratnya Jungurrayi, Ralnga (Old Charlie) Janjalngana Jampijinpa, Splinter Dardayi Yani Jangala, Wattie Upar Jampijinpa, Waranjiwarnu (Paddy) Japaljarri, Yariyari (Arthur) Jangari, Muluntu (Billy) Julama, and Jimmy Tchooga.

Descendants of the artists and other community members travelled to Boorloo/Perth for the exhibition launch on Friday, opening the event with a performance sharing one of the many stories told by the artworks.

*A young patron at the launch of the Birrundudu Drawings exhibition. Image: Giovanni Torre.*

At the launch, Co-director of The Berndt Museum, Palyku academic Dr Jessyca Hutchens, told National Indigenous Times the value of the exhibition is "almost unquantifiable".

"It's an absolutely monumental archive of Aboriginal knowledge that comes from various desert communities who all found themselves at this remote cattle station called Birrundudu, where just 16 men produced this incredible archive of knowledge of their ceremonies and life stories and their custodial responsibilities, creating 810 drawings in just three months at this remote station," Dr Hutchens said.

"The works have rarely been seen, and this is the first time they've been exhibited publicly. So in essence, they've kind of been hidden away for over 80 years, and over the last few years, they finally began to be reconnected with all of their descendants and communities and people with cultural ties to the drawings, and they're really finally coming back to life.

"All of those senior men and cultural custodians that worked on the project before the exhibition have allowed them to be seen by the public... so they're able to be seen by us today."

*A work by Warlpiri man Waranjiwarnu (Paddy) Japaljarri showing rainbow serpents coming up from south and going into Ngintimarani rockhole. Image: Giovanni Torre, courtesy of The Berndt Museum.*

Birrundudu Station sits 695km south-west of Katherine on the Western Australia-Northern Territory border and the commissioned artists came from a diverse spread of cultural and language groups across both areas.

Descendants of the artists and their affiliated communities in Balgo, Billiluna, Halls Creek, Kalkarindji (Wave Hill), Lajamanu, Yuendumu and Mparntwe (Alice Springs) were engaged during the four-year development process, with some families seeing the works of their descendants for the very first time, such as Paddy Padoon Jangala's grandson, Robert McKay.

"We didn't go looking for them," Mr McKay said. "It's like they came looking for us."

*The crowd at the launch of the Birrundudu Drawings exhibition in Boorloo/Perth. Image: Giovanni Torre.*

The Berndt Museum co-director and Yamatji man Dr Stephen Gilchrist said the works were even more remarkable for being created at a time when so much Indigenous art was rapidly and deliberately being dispersed and destroyed.

"Now, their descendants and communities can bring story, song, place and ceremony back to life," he said.

Birrundudu Drawings is now open and runs until April 4, 2026 at Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery, UWA.

A book featuring the art works is also available.

With additional reporting by David Prestipino