Aboriginal ART

Much Aboriginal art comes from stories

handed down through many generations
about the Dreamtime – the period in which
the people believe the world was created
Wandjina Rain Spirit from Dreamtime stories

Aboriginal symbols are used instead of

written language

The paintings teach Aboriginal culture to

new generations to keep it strong
“Emu Dreaming” – Jimmy Baker

The many Aboriginal tribal groups

have made art for perhaps 50 000
years in different ways, from
ancient rock paintings to bark
paintings to modern dot paintings

The art has layers of meaning. The outer layer,

apparent to an outsider, may be an animal or
abstract pattern; deeper layers may convey
ancient meanings about the tribe’s landscape,
way of life and ancient beliefs passed down
through the generations. These meanings are
often hidden or abstracted to preserve their
sacredness for the Aboriginal people “Barramundi Design based on
Totem” traditional landscape
– Edward Blitner

Geoffrey Bardon, an art teacher in a remote town called Papunya in the

1970s, saw Aboriginal artists illustrating their stories in the sand. He
encouraged them to make their art more permanent by painting on
canvas or board and eventually helped to bring Aboriginal art to
international attention, especially popularising the dot painting style