Articles
Introduction to the contemporary Aboriginal art movement in Australia
The Australian contemporary Aboriginal art movementis world famous and is reknowned as the single longest continuous art movement in history. Aboriginal art is highly sought after by collectors, museums and galleries and the work of Aboriginal artists continues to grow in value as demand starts outstrip the supply of available work.There are many styles and genres which make up the movement. Experts generally agree that there are six distinct regional styles and then a burgeoning urban contemporary art scene. There styles and genres are:
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Each of these styles are distinct in their visual presentation, use of iconography, colour, texture and different techniques. Aboriginal Art Iconography and Symbols How to read the world's oldest map? 100,000 year old secret revealed... Visual story telling using Aboriginal Art Iconography A campsite...travelling water...emu tracks. All share a secret. All are part of a secret code passed down from generation to generation for over 100millenia. Etched in the sands of time from father to son...mother to daughter. Though each region of Australia has its own distinct forms and styles of traditional Aboriginal art, there is a commonvisual language of iconography and symbols in use which is surprisingly similar across the country. While identifying and recognising these icons and symbols will enable you to access a traditional Aboriginal artwork much more intimately, what you won't get is the specific narrative or story associated with that particular set or sequence of symbols. The context surrounding the symbols and iconography like words in the English language create meaning. This can only be truly gleaned from the artist or member of the community from which the artwork originates and who also carries the lore (authority to speak/sing/dream) for that particular story. Iconography and symbols found in traditional Aboriginal art can be likened to a road map. But this is not any ordinary road map...Because it not only reveals details about place but to the trained eye it also reflects emotional, relational and spiritual experiences linked to particular places. Over the coming weeks, I will reveal some of the most commonly used and seen symbols in Traditional Aboriginal art. If you would like to more about symbols and iconography in traditional Aboriginal art, please sign up for a copy of my free Ancient Aboriginal Symbols primer where I write in detail about 12 of the most revered and special symbols in use in traditional Aboriginal art today.