Aboriginal art: The world's oldest continuous art tradition
When Australia was first colonised in 1788, there were over 200 Indigenous spoken languages in use, but the Aboriginal peoples of Australia did not have a written language in the way we understand it.
These ancient nomadic tribes used ceremony and art as a means of communicating important events and stories from one generation to another. The passing down of knowledge, culture and history in this way is an important way to keep traditions and beliefs alive.
How to interpret Aboriginal art
Aboriginal art is based upon a strong spiritual belief system that underpins their culture and perpetuates traditional stories, rites and important cultural laws.
The main themes of creation and the cycle of life and death commonly portrayed in Aboriginal art are known as Dreamtime or Dreaming (Tjukurrpa). However, it is almost impossible to describe the true meaning as it applies to the Aboriginal people as the secretive nature of the information prevents artists from disclosing some culturally sensitive information.
Dreamtime can also describe a past or present journey or event, life and death or landscape. Not just a historical communication, modern day events are often incorporated in the artworks as new stories evolve.
Although common themes apply, each Aboriginal clan or community has its own unique version of history which was traditionally captured using local materials readily available to the group. Sometimes this was nothing more than drawings in the sand or carvings on the walls of local caves, but each one held important meaning.
The uniqueness of the stories from each community also applies to the styles, paint techniques and imagery used.
From the bold, bright colours favoured by the traditional landowners of the Yuendumu region to the typical cross hatching or "rarking" from Arnhem Land, creative Aboriginal expression takes many forms. It is also not limited to paint techniques and extends to body painting, sculpture, engravings, carving and printmaking.
Ancient rights and responsibilities
Aboriginal law dictates that an artist can only paint the stories they are entitled to through birthright. Traditionally, it was the senior men of the clan who were allowed to paint.
In more contemporary times however, the senior women have taken up the responsibility to keep the traditions alive by capturing them and passing them down to the next generation. Communities are emerging where more people, both male and female, paint their stories, such as the Lockhart River Art Gang.
Read about the emergence of Contemporary Aboriginal art
