The Bidjpidji Artist

Jason Lee is a self-taught artist living on saltwater country. He started learning his Gulumerrdjin (Larrakia) culture from a young age, which was further cultivated during his teenage years and through learning Larrakia language. Jason has recently created a new work called Gunamidirra, meaning saltwater, which you can see in the mall, bringing a pop of blue colour to the planter boxes and benches throughout.

My name is Jason Lee, I’m an artist born and bred in Darwin. My tribe is Larrakia and my dreaming is the dragonfly, which is Bidjipidji (pronounced Beedj-peedjee) in Larrakia language.

Growing up in Darwin

It was so multicultural, and I grew up all around family. It was fun. I got to know my culture from mum, my uncles, aunties and siblings and other extended family… going out hunting and fishing. They showed me which plants are good to use for different things, what animals we can eat and what’s seasonal as well. That was really important for me.

Working as local artist

I try to showcase my culture through my art. Making people aware in Darwin and Palmerston that they are on Larrakia land. That it’s so different to, say, being on Tiwi islands or on Kakadu land. And helping tourists, visitors, and people who’ve just moved here and even long-term locals who may not know much about the country here. My inspiration comes from my Larrakia heritage. The seven seasons, the animals, and the plants. I’d say my style is traditional-contemporary, a real mix, and I use a lot of bright colours.

Stand out projects

For the International Year of Indigenous Languages in 2019, I designed a series of animal artworks which got made into an English and Larrakia book called the Gulumerrdjin Madawa Animals Book. It’s aimed at kids so they can learn language. Larrakia language is beginning to be learnt and revived more now, especially in the last decade. And some places are being renamed too, like Bundilla Beach (previously Vestys Beach). So, slowly it’s happening.

I’ve done a bunch of projects for the City of Darwin, including designing some images which are on the office doors at the Civic Centre, showing local different animals and items with the words in Larrakia. That’s in a more contemporary style (insert photo here of one of those pieces?). The façade at the China Town Carpark - I did the dragonfly design for that. It ties in with the Council’s logo design too.  At night apparently the light shines through it.  

The Darwin Street Art Festival has been really good for me. It’s helped to elevate me and my work. I have a lot to thank them for. For example, I can make a painting that’s on someone’s wall at home, but if I do a mural thousands of people see it and they share it on social media.

I was involved with the drone show First Lights Balarr inyiny that my niece Jenna Lee led, she’s an artist too. It was part of this year’s Darwin Festival.

I’ve just finished a mural at the dump (Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility). I painted a dugong and my nephew Trent Lee painted a brolga. And I’ve had a couple of solo exhibitions too.

Living in Darwin

It’s the best lifestyle up here and it’s too cold down south (laughs). It’s so multicultural and it’s just so different to any other capital city. I like hearing how people end up in Darwin. When I ask them ‘How long have you been here? And they are like “I came up for a two-week holiday… that was 30 years ago”. Classic. People love it. And then I’ve known people who get sick of it and say, “I’m moving back south” and then in a couple of years they are back (laughs).

Bidjipidji Art