Johnathon Bush’s ochre paintings present a unique combination of Tiwi culture and his personal views on global politics, family and cultural heritage. He adopts some painting techniques that reflect jilamara (Tiwi body paint design) and combines them with representations of political figureheads, Catholic imagery that relates to the colonial experience of the Tiwi, stories of colonial crimes against Indigenous people or adaptations of old anthropological images of First Australians.
Established in 1989, Jilamara Arts & Crafts Association is owned and governed by Tiwi artists from Milikapiti community on Melville Island. The Tiwi Islands, Bathurst Island & Melville Island, are north of Darwin and have been home to Tiwi people since parlingarri (a long time ago).
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the place now called Victoria, and all First Peoples living and working on this land. We recognise and celebrate the cultural heritage, creative contributions, and stories of the First Peoples of Victoria. We pay respect to Elders of today, emerging Elders of tomorrow and Elders of the past.
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