Aboriginal Art

1. Typical features of indigenous Australian art

- Colorful

- Motives from the nature (animals, flowers…)

- Limited number of forms

- Consists often out of dots

- Special symbols

- Symmetric

2. Summary of traditional art of Aborigines

The origin of traditional ground mosaics lies north from Alice Springs to Western Desert Country. Also today there can be found examples of traditional indigenous art in caves, on rocks and walls. Decorations and indigenous art are painted on different surfaces; there are traditional ground mosaics, on bodies in ceremonies, head dresses of actors, secret-sacred ritual objects near the ceremonial grounds, shield, boomerangs and other weapons or objects. The motives are influenced by the strong connection between nature and indigenous people. Paintings of sacred objects on bodies in ceremonies should give their carriers kind of supernatural power. Only men of middle age have the permission to make ground paintings. Women are not involved and men who do not have the permission are allowed to act as assistants. No man is allowed to make a ground painting alone and paint what he wants to paint. There is no artistic freedom. The creator has to have the authority over his motive.

3. Cultural Background in today’s aboriginal works

I think the single similarity between traditional art and today’s aboriginal work is the appearance of the pictures and technique of painting and creating. The cultural background is not observed today. In the past paintings were made because of mythological and spiritual reasons. No one man could paint a picture alone, no man could paint what he wanted to paint and no one wanted to make money with art. Aborigines made pictures on walls and in caves to remember a historical event. Today it is completely different, aboriginal art is used for making money. It does not matter how much you paint and whether you have the authority. There is no deep sense behind a picture.

Also Billy Woodward uses his ability by making money.

But I think it is okay, because Aborigines often do not have another choice.