Means and meanings

Artistic expressions plays a central role in the cultural life of the Aborigines. The religious dimensions in their art is omnipresent, whereas its political, social, practical or didactic purposes are constantly overlapping.

Among the means and techniques used by the Aborigines, some are short-lived, such as paintings on the body, on a piece of tree bark or on the bare ground. Ceremonial sculptures made of wood and carvings or drawings on rocks are less ephemeral. Ritual and practical objects can be made with stone, wood, cloth or feathers.
Jewellery is generally composed of bones, shells and seeds.

Techniques can vary regionally: in the Arnhemland area, the paintings are predominantly done on large pieces of flattened tree bark, whereas the Desert region artists paint traditionally on bare ground.

Until the 18th century, with the arrival of the first European settlers in Australia, Aboriginal Art had served ritual purposes exclusively. Only an artist who had been through several phases of initiation, could create art of social dimensions.

To some extent, this is still valid today, although the growth towards Aboriginal control of their communities has been accompanied by a flourishing art development. The practice of old and new means of visual representation has become one of the most constructive aspects of Aboriginal people’s daily life.

In this context, it was unavoidable that more and more works of art were being produced for public and/or commercial use.

All pictures are copyrighted © 2008 Lex Gillen