Raymond Bush

Skin: Miyartuwi (Pandanus)
Country: Andranangoo (Goose Greek)
Dance: Jilarti (Brolga)

Raymond Bush has been painting at Jilamara Arts and Craft Association since he was 16. He joined in the late 1980s, when Jilamara was just evolving as an arts organisation.

He learnt painting from his Grandfather Pakapanali (Paddy Bush). He carries his Grandfather’s knowledge to keep his Tiwi culture and language alive. Like all Tiwi people Raymond inherited his Country from his father’s family. Paluwiyanga is a remote part of eastern Melville Island, Milikapiti is the closest community to this region and Raymond has spent most of his life living here with his extended Bush family.

Raymond has developed his own distinct style of Jilamara (body paint design). He incorporates Tiwi wildlife into his paintings such as jarrakalani (turtle), marntuwujini (dugong), tokwampuwi (birds) and mupiti (fish). Raymond has had periods of great success throughout his long art career, has shown in some significant groups exhibitions throughout the 1990s/2000s and is held in major Australian collections including the National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne), Museum of Victoria (Melbourne) and he National Maritime Museum (Sydney).