Ruqayyah Snyder
Australian Aboriginal art is one of the oldest living art forms, dating back 80,000 years. The art form has endured due to its deep cultural significance, serving as a means of communication and storytelling for Aboriginal people, who had no written language. The artwork, including rock art, bark paintings, wood carvings, and sculptures, depicts important cultural stories, knowledge of the land, and survival techniques. The use of symbols and icons in Aboriginal art ensures the preservation of their culture and heritage. The art form has also evolved with the introduction of new materials and techniques, such as watercolour and acrylic paints, bridging the gap between ancient and contemporary art and sparking a revival of interest in and respect for Aboriginal culture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Storytelling | Oral storytelling and songs |
| Visual communication | Drawings, paintings, and ceremonial designs |
| Symbols | Icons, circles within circles |
| Rock art | Rock paintings, engravings, hand-stenciling |
| Wood carvings | Wood carvings of animals |
| Basket weaving | Shell pendants |
| Stone arrangements | Stone circles |
| Bark painting | Ochres on dried bark |
| Kalti paarti carving | Emu egg carvings |
| Contemporary art | Use of modern materials and colours |
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What You'll Learn
- Australian Aboriginal art is the oldest artistic expression in the world
- It is part of the oldest continuous living culture in world history
- The art is based on storytelling and symbols
- Geoffrey Bardon encouraged Aboriginal people to paint their stories on canvas
- Aboriginal art has been influential in galleries and museums
Australian Aboriginal art is the oldest artistic expression in the world
Australian Aboriginal art is the oldest unbroken artistic tradition in the world, with a history spanning tens of thousands of years. The earliest known examples of Australian Aboriginal rock art were discovered by British explorer Matthew Flinders and recorded by ship's artist William Westall on January 14, 1803, in the form of painted and stencilled patterns within rock shelters on Chasm Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. However, the oldest examples of rock art, found in Western Australia's Pilbara region and the Olary district of South Australia, are estimated to be around 40,000 years old.
Aboriginal art encompasses a diverse range of mediums and techniques, including rock painting, dot painting, rock engravings, bark painting, carvings, sculptures, weaving, and string art. The art serves a crucial purpose: to communicate deep ancestral ties and a profound connection to the land, as well as to convey cultural stories, knowledge, and beliefs. The absence of a written language among Aboriginal people further underscores the importance of their artwork as a means of expression and knowledge transfer across generations.
Dreamtime, also known as Jukurrpa or Songlines, is a central concept in Aboriginal art and culture. It narrates the stories of the artist's Dreaming, where supernatural beings travelled across the land, creating everything and establishing the social and religious customs that remain integral to Aboriginal identity. Iconic figures, such as Rainbow Serpents and Lightning Men, are woven into these narratives, shaping the spiritual and physical landscape of the Aboriginal people.
The artistic expressions of the Aboriginal people are deeply rooted in their natural environment. From intricate sand and body paintings in the deserts to bark paintings and rock art in the North, the art forms reflect the diverse landscapes and ecosystems of Australia. Wood carvings, an essential part of Aboriginal culture, often take the shape of animals and are used in ceremonies and to convey essential information about their country and customs.
Aboriginal artists inherit the rights to paint particular stories, which are passed down through generations within specific skin groups. The choice of colours and artistic styles can vary significantly even within communities, with certain communities becoming well-known for specific art styles. For instance, the Western desert art movement is recognised for its use of soft earth tones, while other Western Desert communities favour strong primary colours.
The introduction of new mediums and techniques, such as the use of watercolour by Aboriginal artists in the 1930s and acrylic paints in the early 1980s, marked a significant evolution in Aboriginal art. The encouragement of Aboriginal men to paint their stories onto canvas and board by school teacher Geoffrey Bardon in 1971 also sparked the famous Aboriginal art movement, bridging Indigenous stories with Western artistic formats.
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It is part of the oldest continuous living culture in world history
Australian Aboriginal art is part of the world's oldest continuous living culture. This art form has been practised for an estimated 40,000 years, with ancient rock art galleries depicting now-extinct animals and landscapes altered by ice-age climate change. The discovery of human remains in Lake Mungo, New South Wales, Australia, in 1969, known as the Mungo Woman, dates back to around 24,700–19,030 years ago. Additionally, the Ngunnhu fish traps of Brewarrina, built by Aboriginals, are at least 40,000 years old.
The Aboriginal people have traditionally used art to convey their cultural stories and knowledge orally, as they have no written language. Their artwork, including rock paintings, wood carvings, and shell pendants, serves as a chronicle to pass on information about the land, events, and their beliefs. The use of symbols and icons in their art acts as an alternate way to record their stories and teach survival skills.
The Aboriginal art movement gained prominence in 1971 when a school teacher, Geoffrey Bardon, encouraged Aboriginal men to paint their stories onto canvas and board using Western art materials. This initiative marked a significant shift for Indigenous people, as they began to express their cultural heritage through a foreign medium.
The influence of Aboriginal art extends beyond their communities, as non-Aboriginal audiences also engage with these paintings, gaining insight into Aboriginal culture. The art form has been described as timeless, connecting it to the era of human pre-history, a time with limited written records and scant evidence of early human cultures.
While China is recognised for its long and continuous history, spanning 3,500 years of written records, Aboriginal culture lacks a traditional written component, making it distinct in its oral and artistic transmission of knowledge.
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The art is based on storytelling and symbols
Australian Aboriginal art is based on storytelling and symbols. As the Aboriginal people have no written language, they rely on oral storytelling and songs, as well as visual communication through drawing, painting, and the use of ceremonial designs to convey their cultural stories.
Aboriginal artists often paint maps of their country, showing important landmarks, and they frequently use an aerial perspective, even if they have never been on a plane. These maps also include knowledge of water sources and the locations of bush tucker. Songlines or Dreaming tracks, laid down in Creation Time by spirit ancestors, are also included in these artworks.
Symbols and icons are used to tell stories, with each symbol retaining a specific meaning across regions, although the meaning may change within the context of a painting. The use of symbols allows for the transmission of knowledge on matters of survival, land management, and the teaching of right from wrong.
The Aboriginal Art movement began in 1971 when Geoffrey Bardon, a teacher working with Aboriginal children in Papunya, encouraged the Aboriginal men to paint their stories on canvas and boards, marking a significant shift from their traditional art forms on rock walls, ceremonial articles, body paint, and sand. This art form has become a powerful bridge between Aboriginal culture and Western culture, fuelling interest in preserving Indigenous culture and providing a vital source of income for many remote communities.
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Geoffrey Bardon encouraged Aboriginal people to paint their stories on canvas
In 1971, Geoffrey Bardon, an Australian school teacher, arrived at Papunya, a remote Aboriginal settlement 250 km west of Alice Springs. Bardon noticed that while the Aboriginal men were telling stories, they would draw symbols in the sand. He encouraged them to paint their stories on canvas and board, marking a significant departure from their traditional art forms. This initiative by Bardon sparked the famous Aboriginal art movement, introducing a new medium for Indigenous people to express their cultural stories and knowledge.
Bardon's encouragement of Aboriginal artists faced opposition from administrators, who were reluctant to provide financial support or promote traditional values. Despite this, he persevered, supplying basic art materials to a group of elders. He arranged for them to paint a mural and provided artist's paints and canvas. Bardon's efforts were instrumental in bringing Aboriginal art to the Western view, and he worked closely with the founders of the Papunya Tula painting movement from 1971 to 1973.
The Aboriginal art movement showcases the enduring power of storytelling and cultural preservation. Traditionally, Aboriginal people conveyed their stories and knowledge of the land through symbols and artwork on rock walls, ceremonial articles, body paint, and drawings in dirt or sand. Bardon's encouragement to paint on canvas provided a new avenue for expression within the Western art world.
The choice of colours and styles in Aboriginal art often varies across communities and artists. For instance, the Papunya Tula movement is known for its use of soft earth tones, while other Western Desert communities favour strong primary colours. The use of certain symbols in Aboriginal art retains consistent meanings across regions, even when interpreted differently by diverse audiences. This preservation and evolution of Aboriginal art showcase the enduring nature of their artistic expression.
Geoffrey Bardon played a pivotal role in encouraging Aboriginal people to paint their stories on canvas, sparking a renowned art movement. His efforts faced bureaucratic challenges but ultimately contributed to the preservation and promotion of traditional Aboriginal art forms, earning him recognition as a Member of the Order of Australia in 1988.
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Aboriginal art has been influential in galleries and museums
Indigenous art is centred on storytelling, conveying knowledge of the land, events, and beliefs of the Aboriginal people. This art form has helped break down barriers of prejudice and misunderstanding, bringing financial benefits and greater respect to Aboriginal communities. It has also revitalised young Aboriginal people's appreciation of their culture through the teachings of elders.
Aboriginal art is equally at home in galleries and museums, reflecting the ancient culture's artistic and anthropological merit. The first European discovery of Aboriginal rock paintings was in 1803 by British explorer Matthew Flinders, who found an array of painted and stencilled patterns on Chasm Island. Today, Sydney's Aboriginal museums and sites, such as the Australian Museum, showcase significant First Nations collections, while the Art Gallery of NSW exhibits the influence of Aboriginal heritage.
Beyond museums, Sydney's Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park offers over 800 recorded Aboriginal sites, including rock paintings, axe grinding grooves, and stencils, providing a glimpse into the ancient art of this enduring culture.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian Aboriginal art has traditionally been created through rock paintings, rock carvings, wood carvings, shell pendants, basket weaving, and sand drawings.
Australian Aboriginal art is part of the oldest continuous living culture in world history, with evidence of Aboriginal rock art dating back at least 20,000 years. Archaeology has dated ancient campsites to 50,000-65,000 years, and it is believed that Aboriginal people settled on the Australian continent between 60,000 and 80,000 years ago.
Australian Aboriginal art is often characterised by the use of symbols and storytelling. The art is deeply connected to the land and reflects traditional Creation stories, spiritual beliefs, and cultural knowledge. The choice of colours and styles can vary significantly between communities and artists.
The Contemporary Aboriginal Art movement gained worldwide attention due to the extraordinary talent of Indigenous artists in composition, colour, and visual storytelling. The art seemed to transcend cultural boundaries and fuelled interest in preserving Indigenous culture.
Some notable Australian Aboriginal artists include Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, Erlikilyika, and Gloria Ngaria. In 2007, Kngwarreye's work "Earth's Creation" sold for $1.056 million, and Tjapaltjarri's "Warlugulong 'Map Series'" sold for $2.4 million.
