Frogs and Toads in Aboriginal culture

How important are frogs to Indigenous Australian culture, and how are they depicted in their artwork?

The two images here are by Indigenous artist Malcolm Maloney Jagammara, both entitled ""Frog Dreaming (Purda Punta)"

Jagamarra's art evolved from his tribe’s ceremonies. Aboriginal paintings were originally daubed on the ground and on the bodies of the people and were therefore not preserved. Since 1971 they have been preserved in the form of acrylic paint on canvas.

"It has given everyone a chance to learn about Aboriginal Dreamings", says Jagamarra. "Our art reflects not just the land but its mythology, song and dance". The symbols are called "iconography" and are the oldest in the world.

These 2 paintings depict iconography referring to the Frog (Purda Punta) Dreaming. This Dreaming evolves from the Lander River, 200 miles north-west of Alice Springs. The Frog (Purda Punta) buries itself underground in the Lander river system and surfaces only, when the river floods (can be up to seven years).

See more about Jagamaraa on this youtube video

(information sourced from http://www.authaboriginalart.com.au/Artist.asp?Artist=Malcolm%20Jagamarra; http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/aboriginal-art/malcolm-maloney-jagamarra/frog-dreaming-purda-punta/index.php; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sgtYmuChO4)