About the Artist
Bur’an Founder John Smith Gumbula is a multi-award winning recipient of the prestigious ‘QEII Silver Jubilee Queens Trust Awardee for Young Achieving Australians’, and proud descendant family member of the Wakka Wakka & Goreng Goreng people of Queensland, Australia, passionately involved in diverse innovative artistic mediums spanning over 30 years.
An adopted son and family member of the traditional Yolngu People of Galiwinku-Elcho Island community, Northern Territory, Australia.
John’s passionate creative journey, authentic cultural expressions of diverse contemporary Indigenous artworks, design and ethical business practices, are fused into unique visionary ideas, and iconic concepts that portray a respectful approach and evolution of ethical Australian Indigenous images, including expressions of contemporary common creatives, cultural symbolism of flora and fauna, complementing modern colours and the rich earthy vibrant tones of his people’s ancient lands, and connection to country and culture.
“Formulating Cultural Bridges of understanding amongst Global Communities highlights the cultural heritage and spiritual significance of Indigenous Australia. Keeping Cultural Strong and Alive.”

Depicts the Dry Season ‘Traditional Bush Burning time’
Biodiversity plays an important role within the Indigenous communities and cultural heritage across Australia.
The old people (Elders) respected and cared for the country by using ancient, traditional Indigenous land management knowledge that worked with the environment for a specific outcome. They used traditional burning, including the use of sacred fire to regenerate flora and fauna and to keep the grasslands and heavy bushland areas from overgrowing.

Depicts the Wet Season relating to the Northern Territory Wet & Dry.
In the Arnhem Land regions of Traditional Country, Yolngu people have 6 seasons. Wet Season means heavy rains during the wet November to April months, and is the big season for fishing barramundi and all kinds of other fish. There is also magpie, goose and crocodile hunting.
The Wet Season is also a time for traditional ceremonial practices that relate to the mythological Dreaming stories of creation. During the Wet Season, access to these hunting campsites is restricted.