Aboriginal Art

Aboriginal culture dates back as far as 60,000 years, possibly longer. This is when Aboriginal people first settled in what is now known as Australia. The
first evidence of Aboriginal ethos or philosophy is evident in the still visible rock art which dates back more than 20,000 years. Ochres were used to paint on
rocks. Archaeologists have been able to date remains and findings as far back as 40,000 to 60,000 years from discoveries of primal campsites.

There is no written language for Aboriginal People so in order to convey their important cultural stories through the generations, it is portrayed by
symbols/icons through their artwork. It is imperative to pass on information to preserve their culture. Indigenous art is centered on story telling. It is used as
a chronical to convey knowledge of the land, events and beliefs of the Aboriginal people. The use of symbols is an alternate way to writing down stories of
cultural significance, teaching survival and use of the land. The interpretations of the iconography differ depending on the audience.

Animals are regularly used as symbols and metaphor in Aboriginal art. In Aboriginal Australia where the original inhabitants were principally hunters rather
than farmers, they relied on the native animals around them for food.

Aboriginal groups in Australia have always maintained a close relationship with their environment and the animals around them. Animals are central to
Aboriginal survival as a food source. Aboriginal people would use their art to tell stories and legends, however at the heart of many Aboriginal pieces are
maps which detailed successful hunting routes and weather patterns. Sometimes they show the animal from the inside, using the x-ray style. This is
relevant to hunters who relate to the animals in terms of being a food source. The dots create pattern and texture which is strongly associated with native
Australian culture, but was alto a vital tool of communication to ancient people.

Aboriginal rock art is some of the oldest existing on earth and these paintings show the presence of animals that have since become extinct in that part of
the country. One famous example of this is the Tasmanian tiger, which appears in rock art of northern Australia, where it has long been extinct. The rock art
sites show the history of the environment and the changes that have taken place over thousands of years, as recorded by Aboriginal artists.
 Word Bank:
Art Annotations o Calm/energetic
Each page of your coursework should contain annotation. Use this writing frame to analyse artist’s work and evaluate your
own. You need not answer every single question (some might not apply to the work you are discussing),but you should o Harmonious/contrasting
have a paragraph of writing for each sub-heading. Do not write out the sub-heading or the questions. This should read
like a mini essay in paragraphs. o Perpendicular/diagonal
Artist Analysis
o Calm/energetic
Describe:
- What can you see? ‘In the Aboriginal paintings I can see ____________’
- o Vibrant/ dull
Explain the subject of the artwork. What images are there?
- Use adjectives from the word bank to describe the colours, shapes, and style
- o Organic/ geometric
How is the work laid out? Describe the composition
Analyse:
- o Sharp/blunt
What is it about?
- What is the mood (see word bank)?
- o Warm/cold
What materials have been used?
- Have they been used in a particular way (see word bank)?
- o Rhythmic/ still
What is the artist thinking about?
Contextualise:
- o Peaceful/chaotic
Does it remind you of anything?
- When was it made?
- o Melancholy/ uplifting
How is it representative of its era?
- Does it have any social/political relevance?
o Intense/vague
Interpret:
- How does this relate to your project/theme?
- What is your opinion of the work and why? (use technical language) o Euphoric/ gloomy
- How could you respond to the artist?
- How could you develop this idea further? o Enchanting/weary
- What additional experiments could you do?
o Intricate/modest

o Elegant/gaudy