Aboriginal Art

The next unit we cover in Art class will deal with Aboriginal Art.

Australian Aboriginal art is the oldest living art tradition
in the world, with paintings in rock shelters dating back over
20,000 years. The art includes naturalistic paintings of human,
plant and animal figures, as well as non-naturalistic, or
"abstract" designs with concentric circles, "u" shapes, and lines.

The naturalistic style, predominant in Arnhem Land in northern
Australia, is often characterised by "X-ray" art, where the
internal organs of animals are depicted. The abstract style,
predominant in central Australia, originates from sacred
designs used in ceremonies. These designs, originally for body
painting, ground paintings, and carved on sacred stones and
boards, are now painted on canvas.

Much of Aboriginal art relates to stories of the Dreamtime.
This Dreamtime is the Creation Period in Aboriginal belief,
when important Ancestral Beings formed the land and created
the people, plants and animals. These Ancestral Beings, often
depicted in the art, may take human, animal, plant or combined
forms, and taught the people their laws and ceremonies.
(Courtesy Dr.David Welch)