Aboriginal Artist Oben Ngaboy

Oben Ngaboy presently lives Gunbalanya, an important Aboriginal Australian town in west Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. Gunbulunya is located about 300 kilometres east of Darwin.

This township has one of the oldest arts centres in the Top End, Injalak Arts, It is famous for its fabric silk screening, weaving communities and artists.

The main language spoken in the Gunbalanya community is Kunwinjku and it has a population of just under 1200 people.

Oben comes from a long line of weavers, painters, carvers and ceremonial people. His clan also are associated with the ‘long yam’ dancers, a well-known dance troupe, as dance has been part of their culture for many generations.

Some of Oben’s favourite themes to paint are the Eel-tailed catfish, turtles, water lilies, and water birds such as the Magpie Goose (bamurru).