Australian Aboriginal Art

Two women are sitting and painting in a recreated pioneer's hut tucked away in the bushland of the Flinders Ranges in South Australia's outback. As they work, their conversation moves from the present and then, slowly, gradually, back into the past. They talk about family, art, and the history behind the works they are creating. They are mother and daughter, so each knows the other's stories well. But the trust they place in me, as a visitor to this stunning place, is transforming.

Australian Aboriginal culture is ancient, as is Australian Aboriginal art. Unlike white settlers in Australia, who have only been in this country for a little over two hundred years, Aboriginal culture dates back possibly as much as 60 000 years. They know the country, the landscape, the animals and plants, and how to live in a country which can be harsh and unforgiving, especially in times of drought.

Aboriginal history since white folk arrived has not been a happy one. Alcohol, loss of cultural identity and forced removal from family has wreaked havoc on Aboriginal people. The stories of the stolen generation, where countless young people where taken from their families and raised in white culture, are heart wrenching, and deeply disturbing. So too are images of young children living in absolute poverty in 2008, with a life expectancy far below the national average.

But the passion and excitement with which these women paint, and the hopes they have for the future, give a sense that it is not too late to make the changes needed to truly bring about a more harmonious society.

So what are all those dots, swirls and lines that seem to criss cross every piece of Aboriginal art? And why are they all different? As a white person, I can only explain what I have been told during a short painting workshop, and it does not even touch on the many and varied meanings and stories which are an intrinsic part of all Aboriginal art. But hopefully you can take some time to learn how to share Australian Aboriginal art with students through the mediums of art, English and Geography.

But in short, Aboriginal art is often about telling stories through symbols and images which share a common meaning. Circles sometimes indicate a place where a person has spent a night or made a camp. Footprints show animals that have been seen or caught along the way. LInes can mean the direction a person travelled during a journey. Small shapes around a circle in a journey painting can show who and how many people were there.

Artworks sometimes tell the historical stories of Aboriginal culture. Some of these are stories of the dreamtime; a time which cannot really be understood or explained by a white person such as myself, but which holds an important and sacred meaning for Aboriginal people.

Paints traditionally were made using clays and ochres from the natural landscape, and even today many artworks use the oranges, reds, blacks and browns typically associated with this artform.

Aboriginal artists have painted on cave walls, on stone, on bark and more recently on canvas. It is these canvas artworks which have found their way into the galleries and onto the walls of many collectors around the world.

Buying Australian Aboriginal art works in the past has been controversial. In some situations, artists were paid very little for their work, but the dealers extracted premium prices in the cities from unaware or uncaring buyers. Before purchasing Aboriginal art, ensure you have some understanding of the story behind the work. Find out who the artist is, and check that the work is authentic and the artist has been paid appropriately. As the end consumer, it is not enough to decide that it is not your issue - make it your issue and realise that the act of buying a work gives you a certain amount of power to influence outcomes for the artists who work hard to create unique, original pieces.