Visual Arts; Traditional and Conte, Porary Aboriginal Art

Traditional and postmodern indigenous art practice Traditional Explain how traditional indigenous art reflects a spiritual connection to the land. Why is this important? (Cultural Frame). Select an artwork by this artist, examine the signs and symbols used-what do they mean? (Structural Frame) Land means different things to non-indigenous and Aboriginal people. Non-Indigenous people and landowners might consider land as something they own, a commodity to be bought and sold. For Aboriginal people their relationship with the land is much deeper. The land owns Aboriginal people and every aspect of their lives are connected to it. Art is a way of expressing this important connection. Aboriginal people connect past and present, through their relationship with the land. Many Aboriginal artworks tell about the connection between people and their land such as “Djan’kawucreation story’. In this way studying their art helps us understand their cultural identity. Their spirituality, their family and their needs which are supplied by the land.

“Djan’kawu creation story’ artwork
“Djan’kawu creation story’ artwork
Needless to say the Art they paint has signs and symbols each with its own meaning, relating to the land. Like European art, Aboriginal art represents and symbolizes the world and the beliefs of its people, however, their art goes farther in depth and meaning. Aboriginal Art is an integral part of traditional life, and occurs as body decoration in ceremonies, on bark and rock walls, on trees, carved rocks, weapons, utensils, and sacred objects. This is because the art is inspired from Religious and ceremonial aspects of life. This is important to recognize as we know we can learn from the artworks about their cultural aspects. Traditional Aboriginal art represents the Dreaming and the fact that all of their choices relate to their beliefs and connection to the land.

Traditional Aboriginal societies vary greatly across Australia but