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ART & MUSIC

Person of the Forest

These are the paintings that artist John Dyer completed in Borneo with the Penan tribe in Mulu and with the Orangutan Foundation in the Lamandau Wildlife reserve in the south of Borneo.

This is what we created in Borneo...

John Dyer Painting. Orangutan Sunset, Borneo. 12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas

"My special access to the Orangutan Foundation Lamandau wildlife reserve in Borneo provided a very privileged view of orangutans in their natural habitat. Each day an adult mother would cross the river looking for fruits in the forest and watching her wading across with her arms in the air was delightful. As the sunset each evening she would wade back into the rainforest to sleep." John Dyer.

John Dyer Painting. A Penan Tribe Welcome, Long Iman, Mulu, Borneo 12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas

"The amazing longhouse at the Penan tribal village of Long Iman in Mulu, Borneo was a real treat to visit and paint. Friendly members of the Penan tribe great us at the water's edge as our longboat finally arrives after an eventful journey upriver. The rainforest towers behind the village on the hillside and tropical butterflies fly through the air."

John Dyer Painting. Garden of Eden, Mulu, Borneo. 12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas

"The rainforest of Borneo is spectacular. At Mulu there is a hidden piece of rainforest 'The Garden of Eden' which is growing in a collapsed limestone cave. Looking out of the cave to the Garden of Eden is extraordinary. The cave mouth frames the jewel like image of tropical forest and animals. Bats hang on the ceiling and fly overhead and I discover a racer snake and soft shell turtle too!" John Dyer.

John Dyer Painting. Sunset Bats, Mulu, Borneo. 12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas

"The bat exodus from the limestone caves of Mulu in the rainforest of Borneo is one of the world's great spectacles. It is an extraordinary sight with the sky turning orange as the sun sets, 3 million wrinkle nosed bats streaming across the sky in swirling patterns and bat hawks in hot pursuit! Tropical butterflies and the calls of hornbills complete this magical event." John Dyer.

John Dyer Painting. Tribal Penan Music at Batu Bungan, Mulu, Borneo. 12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas

"This is a very special painting of Nyapun's house at the Penan village of Batu Bungun. Nyapun, the tribal elder of the Penan is now in his 90s and lived and raised his family as a nomad in the rainforest. Now settled in Batu Bungan he & his two wives performed music using traditional Penan instruments. The Rambutan fruit tree provided a snack & was easily climbed by members of the tribe." John Dyer

John Dyer Painting. Clearwater Cave Swimmers, Mulu, Borneo. 12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas

"The 107km subterranean river that flows through the Mulu cave system emerges in an upwelling in Clearwater pool which has crystal clear water. It is a perfect tropical paradise surrounded by rainforest plants and animals. Swimming in the pool after exploring the cave system was wonderful & this joyous painting celebrates the moment the Last Chance to Paint team took the plunge!"

John Dyer Painting. Person of the Forest, Borneo. 12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas

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John Dyer
John Dyer Painting. Person of the Forest, Borneo

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"Orangutan baby orphans swing from the trees as they enjoy the Ubar fruits. Sitting and painting for several hours in this idyllic scene, as the orphaned orangutans are cared for and allowed to develop their natural behaviours of feeding, playing and nest building, I am struck by the similarities there are between us and orangutans. They really are the 'Person of the Forest'. Beautiful."

John Dyer Painting. Mother and Child, Borneo Orangutans. 12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas

"Whilst living and painting in the rainforest of Borneo a mother orangutan with her child visited me often. It was a beautiful moment to watch her cradling her infant in her arms, just as we would do with a child of our own. Magical." John Dyer.

John Dyer Painting. Stargazing Orangutans, Borneo. 12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas

"The beautiful and engaging baby orangutans at the Orangutan Foundation in Borneo are real characters. They are all orphans and are learning life skills so they can return to the wild when they are older. Making nests so they have a fresh bed every night is one of those and this fun painting captures the magic of baby orangutans in their beds gazing at the stars." John Dyer

John Dyer Painting. Twilight Orangutans, Borneo. 24 x 24 inches acrylic on canvas

"The beguiling orangutans in Borneo make a fresh nest for themselves each night so they can sleep safely under the stars in the rainforest canopy. Living with the orangutans in the forests of Borneo was a remarkable and emotional experience and in many ways, this painting captures the essence of their very human-like, gentle and fragile existence." John Dyer