Negosentro.com | 10 Facts You Should Know about Aboriginal Painting | Aboriginal art and culture of Australia is the world’s oldest tradition and is continuing till date. It is a wide category of paintings drawn on different materials. Other than Aboriginal paintings, the artists have produced carvings and ground designs. Let’s find out some interesting facts about this style of painting.
Different Varieties of Australian Aboriginal Painting
You will find a broad spectrum when it comes to Australian Aboriginal paintings. They have emerged in various forms and are used for many different purposes. Some of the best varieties of Aboriginal paintings are –
- Bark Paintings
Bark paintings are the oldest form of Australian Aboriginal art. But currently, it is lacking behind in longevity.
- Dot Paintings
Dot paintings originate from Central Australia. The motifs and patterns commonly used for dot paintings are the ‘C’ shape, concentric circle, and the wave design, making them easily identifiable.
- Ochre Paintings
The ochre paintings are another form of the Aboriginal art form. The indigenous form used only colors derived from vegetables and natural pigments collected from earth mixed with animal binders.
- Body Painting
It is another indigenous form that originated in Central Australia. Body painting was extensively used in ceremonies and events especially by women. Contemporary artists use acrylic colors for body painting.
- Sand Paintings
These paintings were made by indigenous Aboriginal artists of Australia to tell and convey important stories to others.
- Contemporary Art
Contemporary Australian Aboriginal art depicts the old art forms but in a new format. Many indigenous Aboriginal artists are now using contemporary materials to make their paintings and artwork like,
- Paper
- Canvas and board
- Linen
- Textiles
- New technology and media
Top 10 Indigenous Aboriginal Artists of Australia
Many Australian artists have gained recognition and fame as indigenous painters and artists and continue to come up with new designs and artwork for the survival of the culture. The top 10 indigenous Aboriginal artists are,
- Albert Namatjira
- Gloria Petyarre
- Emily Kame Kngwarreye
- Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri
- Rover Thomas
- John Mawurndjul
- Dorothy Napangardi
- Bronwyn Bancroft
- Richard Bell
- Naata Nungurrayi
10 Facts You Should Know about Aboriginal Painting
The indigenous artists have used various natural materials to express the power and beauty of their Aboriginal culture through paintings. If you are an art lover, you should have an Aboriginal painting in your living room wall. Visit aboriginal-art-australia.com to buy authentic Australian Aboriginal paintings from some of the top indigenous artists. Here are some interesting facts about Australian Aboriginal paintings that you need to know.
- Written Language is Replaced by Symbols in Aboriginal Paintings
The Aboriginal paintings and artworks generally use traditional icons and symbols that depict the culture and people because they do not have any written language.
- Aboriginal Artworks and Paintings are Used to Educate Future Generations
Aboriginal paintings and artworks are used to educate and teach the future generations of the culture. Paintings are generally used to convey a story to children for different purposes.
- Every Aboriginal Artist has a Different Story to Convey
Every Aboriginal painting is unlike and tells a different story. Most of the artworks are based on the individual journey of an artist and what he has learned from his parents.
- The U-Shape Depicts a Person In Aboriginal Paintings
Most of the primary schools in Australia learn about the Aboriginal art basics including the icons and symbols used in paintings. The U-shape is one of the common signs used in paintings depicting humans.
- Aboriginal Artists Require Permission to Paint a Specific Story
Before painting any story, Aboriginal artists require permission as they cannot paint something out of their ancestry. An indigenous artist must stick to the artistic techniques and stories particular to their clan.
- Dot Paintings Comprise of Hidden Secrets
The dots used in dot paintings are for hiding secret information. The tradition of dot painting started when the Aboriginal people feared that white Australians would know their private sacred knowledge. The circular designs were used to obscure the secret symbols beneath the paintings.
- Aboriginal Paintings Represent Dreamtime Stories
Most of the paintings are based on significant ancient symbols and stories revolving around the ‘Dreamtime’ period when the world originated, according to the culture.
- Aboriginal Paintings have Different Meanings to Different Audiences
The paintings are made using multiple layers and each of them speaks to different categories of audience. The first layer speaks to children, the second one to adults, and the final deepest layer speaks about spiritual and ceremonial significance.
- The Paintings Depict Strong Aboriginal Culture
The indigenous Aboriginal culture is strongly depicted by the artworks and paintings produced by leading artists.
- Aboriginal Paintings are Showcased in Galleries and Museums
Aboriginal paintings and artworks are showcased in galleries and museums as it is the longest surviving indigenous culture on earth.
Conclusion
Aboriginal artworks and paintings depict all about the Aboriginal culture of Australia. For understanding the paintings produced by leading indigenous Aboriginal artists, you need to have the idea of its iconography, symbolism, and meticulous rules.
