“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have existed on the continent of Australia for tens of thousands of years. Their art and traditions are among the oldest and richest in human history.” National Gallery of Australia
I recommend teachers consult their Aboriginal Community Education Officer prior to undertaking an Aboriginal art topic.
Bark Art
Conservation of bark art
Example of Aboriginal bark art from the Art Gallery of South Australia. Kulpidga, Australia, Anindilyakwa People. Fishing scene 1948.
More examples of Aboriginal bark art at The National Museum of Australia: http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/old_masters/bark_paintings
What students did: collected bark and used dots, lines and cross-hatching, with a focus on fine detail. Images show examples of student work.
Rock Art
What students did: Students learnt about how rock art communicates information about Aboriginal people and culture. Students create their own art that communicates information about themselves. Students traced around their hand, and inside their hand included images about themselves. The example shown has a setting sun and waves to communicate a love of the beach.
More information about Rock Art: https://japingkaaboriginalart.com/articles/kimberley-rock-art-overview/
X-ray Art
“As its name implies, the X-ray style depicts animals or human figures in which the internal organs and bone structures are clearly visible.” Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/xray/hd_xray.htm
Source of art: http://www.aboriginal-art.de/EN/kunstformen_rindenmalerei.htm ; https://www.kunwinjku-aboriginal-art.com/aboriginal-x-ray.html , Artists: Dick Murrumurru, Leslie Nawirridj (left to right).
See websites for more information regarding x-ray Aboriginal art:
- https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/xray/hd_xray.htm
- https://www.kunwinjku-aboriginal-art.com/aboriginal-x-ray.html
- X-ray art by Dick Murrumurru: http://www.aboriginal-art.de/EN/kunstformen_rindenmalerei.htm
What students did: traced an outline of an Australian animal on black card, used chalk to draw the internal organs and bone structures.
Dot Painting
What students did: paint background and let it dry or paint on black card, trace around an Australian animal cut out, use sticks or cotton buds to make dots.
Art and Sustainability
What students did: collected recycled materials and used these to create sculptures inspired by the Erub Arts Collaborative: Ghost Nets from the Ocean. Students could not use any modern join techniques such as sticky-tape, instead tied materials.
Contemporary Aboriginal Art
Munga Ilkari (Night Sky) 2017 Vicki Cullinan
Ngayuku ngura 2017 Barbara Mbitjana Moore
“Contemporary Aboriginal art can adapt Western art forms and new technologies and media, and still communicate cultural knowledge and express Aboriginality.” http://www.schoolsreconciliationchallenge.org.au/culturally-appropriate-teaching/
“The art of contemporary Indigenous Australians takes many forms. Despite significant change and diversity, the art retains an underlying unity of inspiration—the land and the peoples’ relationships with it. It is simultaneously connected to the past and engaged with the present, engaging with the world through actions which are lively, positive, political, social and creative.” https://nga.gov.au/collections/atsi/
Aboriginal Artists
Albert Namatjira- landscape water colour paintings
About Artist:
- https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/artists/namatjira-albert/;
- https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/resources/exhibition-kits/hills-beyond-hermannsburg/albert-namatjira/
- Recent news: compensation over the “unjust” sale of copyright http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-28/albert-namatjira-descendants-compensation-copyright-fight/10172514
What students could do: create their own watercolour landscape painting.
Yvonne Koolmatrie, weaving and contemporary art– Click here for information
What students could do: create their own artwork out of natural materials.
Bronwyn Bancroft
About artist: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-02/bronwyn-bancroft-artist-and-activist/7468688
Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri
Biography:
- https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/artists/tjapaltjarri-clifford-possum/
- https://www.kateowengallery.com/artists/Cli12/Clifford-Possum-Tjapaltjarri.htm
Yuendumu School Doors
“At Yuendumu in the 1980s five artists were responsible for 27 Dreaming designs on the school doors. The designs represent more than 200 sites in the Warlpiri and Anmatyerre territory. The artists intended for the Doors to remind the Yuendumu schoolchildren of sites and obligations extending across their country. The Doors remained at Yuendumu for 12 years, resisting the desert wind and sun, and surviving robust treatment from Warlpiri schoolchildren.” Source: http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/explore/museum-galleries/australian-aboriginal-cultures
Students could respond to the following questions…
- Why did artists paint on school doors?
- What information/messages did they include in their artwork?
- If you were going to paint a school door, what message would you leave for future school children?
More Information and Resources:
- Great resource, with questions and answers addressing misconceptions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art: https://kluge-ruhe.org/education/essential-introduction-aboriginal-art-25-facts/?fbclid=IwAR2x74DLD9LQlySykC_brl_zWCX1JT2_WiyNEVV0vSIYfjpSXxbB-MJL5KA
- Possible site for students to use to research. Includes examples of a range of Aboriginal art techniques. National Gallery of Australia: https://nga.gov.au/collections/atsi/
- Behind the News: Children as art guides
- Impact of imported/fake/inauthentic mass produced Aboriginal art
- Picture Book: “The Rabbits” by John Marsden and Shaun Tan
- The Emergence of Aboriginal Art: https://japingkaaboriginalart.com/emergence-of-aboriginal-art/
- Advice for teachers regarding being respectful of Aboriginal art: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/multicultural/Pages/koorieculture.aspx
Brianna Laxton 