Aboriginal Fine Art

Tribe: Rembarrgna

Area: Arnhem Land, Northern Territory

Born: Circa 1936- June 1st, 2006

Biography:

Paddy Fordham was born in his father’s country at Barndibu between Malnjangarnak and Bulma. Paddy was nine years old when his family moved to a ration depot at Marranboy during World War II.  In the early 1980’s, Paddy began producing his own work on bark to sell. Paddy now uses canvas and handmade paper mediums to preserve his stories.
Paddy remains in a class of his own. His passion for story telling, in itself a strong Aboriginal tradition, leads him to paint Rembarrnga mythologies. Paddy paintings also serve as a record of the history of the regions he has lived in – especially records of black Australian history.
Winner of the National Australian Aboriginal Art Award in 1993, Paddy also has works in the White House in Washington D.C., and also the Australian National Gallery, Canberra.
Paddy’s paintings often depict the ancient Mimi Spirit, one of the ancestors who taught the first people about ceremony and dances, body art designs and songs. Paddy is an important Rembarrnga ceremonial leader keeping ceremonial duties and actions alive through his works. In his country he is called ‘big man’, that is an important aboriginal elder. The young can learn traditional ways through works painted by Paddy Fordham Wainburrunga.

Awards:

1993 - National Australian Aboriginal Art Award

Collections:

National Gallery of Australia, Canberra
White House Collection, Washington DC, U.S.A.
United Nations Building, New York, U.S.A.