Hand-Painted Noongar Art

Artist:   Christine Winmar
Region: Perth, WA
Size:      75 × 60 cm
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Artist Bio – Christine Winmar

Christine Winmar is a proud Noongar artist born in Midland in 1965. Her skin name, Allawah, meaning “Stay here,” reflects the deep cultural ties and grounding that guide her artistic practice. Christine first learned to paint under the careful instruction of her father, a respected Noongar artist and didgeridoo craftsman. His teachings formed the foundation of her creative journey, instilling in her a strong respect for culture, technique, and the Old People whose stories shape Noongar Country.

Christine’s life has taken her across Western Australia and beyond—from her childhood in the Wheatbelt to time spent living in the Kimberley and Northern Territory. These experiences expanded her artistic language, allowing her to weave traditional Noongar motifs with influences from other Aboriginal communities. Her work is known for its vibrant energy, detailed patterning, and symbolic storytelling, capturing the movement and spirit of Country.

Today, Christine continues to honour her culture through paintings that express identity, belonging, and the enduring strength of Noongar traditions.

Meaning Behind the Artwork – Goanna Dreaming

In Noongar culture, the karda (goanna) is a powerful ancestral being, respected for its resilience, awareness, and ability to survive the harshest conditions. Its movements, tracks, and behaviours carry deep knowledge passed down across generations—guiding Noongar people in reading the land, its rhythms, and its resources.

For Christine, Goanna Dreaming represents a strong personal and cultural connection. The story was passed to her through her Elders and holds significance as a totem of strength and adaptability. The goanna is understood as both a protector and teacher, a being that moves effortlessly between the visible world and the underground pathways beneath Country. Its tracks act as a map, offering guidance to water sources, food, and seasonal changes.

Across many Aboriginal nations, the goanna is also recognised as an ancestor and creator spirit, symbolising life cycles, knowledge, and the enduring relationship between people and the land.

Christine’s depiction of the karda uses flowing lines, textured dot work, and earthy tones to reflect the patterns, movement, and spirit of Country. Her artwork honours the goanna as a guardian figure—one that embodies strength, cultural continuity, and ancient wisdom.

Through Goanna Dreaming, Christine shares a story that celebrates resilience, connection to place, and the powerful presence of ancestral beings who continue to walk alongside Noongar people.