JOHN WEERONGA BARTOO

Warwick, AUSTRALIA

I was born in Brisbane, Australia a long way from the tribal lands of my ancestors in north western New South Wales. I am an Aboriginal Australian.

It was in late 2002 while recovering my health that I felt an urge to paint. At the time I did not realise where this was coming from as I had never had an interest in art.

My paintings tell the stories of my families travels, my journeys and my interpretations of the Dreamtime Stories. I am a self taught artist. I paint in Acrylics mainly on Canvas, Linen and Cotton Rag Paper and more recently I have started designing for a textile company in Denmark and in November 2009 will release a range of ladies scarves with my designs.

Art has taken me to many countries of the world where I have been able to meet people of many different cultures, it has given me the opportunity to trace my family and learn my culture which was denied me when I was young.

To-day I understand why the ancestors decided it was my time to learn through art my place in life’s scheme of things. I can now walk with pride in land of my ancestors.