John Lemibanda

John is a Kunwiniku artist and his country is East Arnhem land in the Northern Territory of Australia. He paints with ‘grass’, which is the stem of a freshwater reed that has many fibres inside. These are pared to the thickness required for his Skin group. The thickness of the lines and the way they are applied is very important – besides Skin, they tell the Clan and Country of the artist.  

Traditionally only the four ochre colours are used: yellow for the sun. Red for the blood of mother earth – she bleeds for you when you are born and when you die. White is used for body designs in ceremony. Black has secret meanings but is also the charcoal rubbed into cuts to create raised scars for tribal markings.  

John is known to paint on specialised Arches paper, didgeridoos, and bark. His paintings are deft, and his renderings of the fish and animal life of his homelands are quite beautiful. John is a quiet person, who values his community and the traditional ways of his ancestors. 

John Lemibanda