Jody Broun
Jody Broun, Yindjibarndi, was born 1963 Perth, W.A. and lives and works in Sydney, N.S.W. As a child, Jody learnt the stories of her people. Her mother suffered a fate common to many Aboriginal children, being taken away from her family and forced to live on a mission. Unlike her mother, who did not see her family until she was an adult, Jody developed a close affinity with her Aboriginal relatives and her native Pilbara land. Regular visits to the area as a child instilled a love of country, which is evident in her rich portrayal of the region. The colours and shapes of the Pilbara are central to her artwork and its people are her inspiration.
Jody has dedicated herself to the service of Australia’s Indigenous people. After completing her Diploma of Teaching, she spent nearly a decade teaching at Clontarf Aboriginal College in Perth whilst simultaneously completing a Masters in Philosophy at the University of Western Australia. After leaving Clontarf, Jody was appointed Director of Aboriginal Housing for Homeswest, and is currently Director General of the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs. This public service has allowed Jody to travel throughout the country where she has keenly observed the rich colours of the landscape and the complex and varied situations of Aboriginal people in Australia.
Unlike painters like Sidney Nolan or Russell Drysdale, Jody depicts the desert as a place of poetry and life. Drawing on a luscious palette of deep crimsons, reds and blues, she uses simplicity of form to create riveting images of people coming to terms with their Aboriginality amidst enveloping plains of the desert horizon. In their refined elegance, these works capture the essence of the desert with its endless plains and vibrant colours, confirming Jody’s reputation as one of the great chroniclers of Australia’s red centre. Jody Broun has exhibited to critical acclaim throughout Australia as well as Singapore, London, Milan, Kyoto and Mauritius. In 1998 she was awarded first prize in the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award and in 2005, she won the Canberra Art Prize.
The below artwork was featured in the Indigenous Law Bulletin March / April 2010 Volume 7 Issue 17.
