Jason Dimer
Jason Dimer comes from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and is the son of the late Mr. Neil Dimer, an important leader and artist in the Goldfields region. Jason lives and works in Kalgoorlie, and his paintings depict traditional Dreamtime stories passed down to Jason from his tribe in Wangkathaa country. These stories include the rainbow serpent and men’s stories. Jason also paints stories of his mother’s country.
Jason Dimer is a Wongutha, Ngadju, and Mirning man and an internationally recognized artist who specializes in narrative and figurative contemporary dot paintings. His father and extended family taught him, with his work reflecting cultural ties to the land and stories of his family’s journey. His work features images and themes of bush tucker, hunting/gathering, dancing, celebration, and the Dreamtime. Jason acknowledges the importance of sharing his expertise with his family, and the artist’s mural for Heartwalk 2017 was completed with the valuable assistance of his family members:
About the painting
This painting represents the main waterholes created by the Rainbow Serpent in the Dreamtime. The waterholes give life to all those who visit here to drink. You can see tracks of the dingo, emu, bush turkey, and kangaroos. The “V” shapes are Aboriginal men sitting around the fire and waterholes playing, tapping sticks, clapping boomerangs, and didgeridoos. Other men are seated around the waterholes, ready to go out hunting with their hitting sticks, boomerangs, and killer boomerangs. The rounder “U” shapes depict aboriginal women collecting bush tuckers with digging sticks. White fat witchetty grubs and yellow honey ants go around the border; they are delicacies. The vines of the silky pear ‘Karlkula’ is iconic of Kalgoorlie. The Goanna represents the protector of the waterholes.