Indigenous Australian Art

Art by indigenous australians that pre dates european colonisation.

Indigenous australian art. Aboriginal australians also referred to as aborigines are people whose ancestors were indigenous to the australian continent that is to mainland australia or to the island of tasmania. Aboriginal culture dates back as far as between 60 000 to 80 000 years. To understand aboriginal art you first have to understand its symbolism. Artistic expressions from the world s oldest continuing culture are drawn from all regions of the country in the gallery s holdings of indigenous australian artworks with a focus the on rich diversity of aboriginal and torres strait islander cultures and experiences in queensland.

This is when aborigine s first settled in australia. The first evidence of aboriginal ethos or philosophy is evident in the still visible rock art which dates back more than 20 000 years. Only two months prior emily kame kngwarreye had sold her work earth s creation to a private buyer for 1 56 million a record for any australian female artist. Traditional aboriginal art includes painting on natural items such as leaves bark and wood.

Using sand to paint carving wood shields spears boomerangs rocks emu egg or shells. It is generally regarded as beginning in 1971 with a painting movement that started at papunya northwest of alice springs northern territory involving aboriginal artists. Indigenous australian art includes art made by aboriginal australian and torres strait islander peoples including collaborations with others it includes works in a wide range of media including painting on leaves bark painting wood carving rock carving watercolour painting sculpting ceremonial clothing and sand painting. We are talking about indigenous art by the aboriginal people of australia of course.

In 2007 iconic aboriginal artist clifford possum tjapaltjrri sold his painting warlugulong to the national gallery of australia for an astounding 2 4 million. A brief introduction to aboriginal art. Indigenous art art periods since 1600 movements schools and groups key events in early australian art history indigenous art indigenous australian art can be traced back to approximately 45 000 years ago. The aborigines migrated to what is now known as australia approximately 50 000 years ago and brought their rich tribal culture spiritual beliefs and their art according to the 2011 census there are 548 370 who.

Contemporary indigenous australian art also known as contemporary aboriginal australian art is the modern art work produced by indigenous australians that is aboriginal australians and torres strait islander people. It is simultaneously connected to the past and engaged with the present. The art of contemporary indigenous australians takes many forms.