Indigenous Art, Culture & Design

Friday 28 October 2011

Indigenous Art, Culture & Design - Week 12

As this course draws to a close, I feel so priviledged to have been able to learn and discover more about Indigenous art, culture and design in Australia. I knew very little about Indigenous culture prior to commencing this course and have learnt that it is a very vibrant and rich culture. As I progress in my studies I look forward to continuing this journey of learning and understanding,

Thursday 27 October 2011

Queen's Visit to Aboriginal School

Just a tid-bit of info!

The Queen's stay in Australia has been highly publicised for the past week and a half, and today was no exception.This evenings news brought to light the Queen's recent visit to an Aboriginal school in Western Australia. I found the feature to be quite comical in some instances, however it highlighted the fact that very little is known about Aboriginal culture at an international level.

Below is a link to an article about the visit.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8366254

Artworks

I LOVE THIS!!!

Mina Mina Dreaming by Judy Watson Napangardi

AND THIS!!!

Dreamtime Sisters by Colleen Wallace Nungari

SOURCES:
Mina Mina Dreaming Image: http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/aboriginal-art/judy-watson-napangardi/mina-mina-dreaming-9/index.php
Dreamtime Sisters Image: http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/aboriginal-art/colleen-wallace-nungari/dreamtime-sisters-199/

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Indigenous Art, Culture & Design - Week 11

Torres Strait Islander Art

Dennis Nona | Kala Lagaw Ya people | Thabara 1992

This week in our lecture we learnt about Torres Strait Islander work. Whilst searching the internet, I came across an episode of Art Nation which offers a great overview of Torres Strait Islander art and culture. The video takes us on a journey through the 'Land, Sea and Sky' exhibition currently on display at the Quensland Gallery of Modern Art. I particularly enjoy the vibrancy of Torres Strait Islander art and culture, and amazed at how the art movement is continually evolving.

Please take a look at the video, some of the artwork is absolutely gorgeous!!

LINK
http://www.abc.net.au/indigenous/video/default.htm#flashtop

Below is also a link to the exhibition website. It offers a variety of resources about the exhibition and Torres Strait Islander art, including pwerpoints, images, education resources, and several other links to videos of the exhibition on their YouTube Channel.

LINK
http://qag.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/past/2011/land,_sea_and_sky_contemporary_art_of_the_torres_strait_islands

SOURCES:
Dennis Nona Image: http://qag.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/past/2011/land,_sea_and_sky_contemporary_art_of_the_torres_strait_islands

Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery

Last week I went to visit the newly re-opened Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery at the South Australian Museum. New to the exhibit was the famous Yuendumu Doors. Whilst making my way through the exhibit several objects were of particular interest to me.

The Yuendumu School Doors
In 1993 senior Warlipiri men grasped an historic opportunity to paint their sacred dreaming designs on the doors of the YuendumuSchool, 250km north west of Alice Springs. It was a key moment in the history of Australian art, and symbolised the Warlipi's decision to explain the Tjukurrpa (Dreamin) to the world beyond their desert home. The 30 doors are unique documents of history and culture. They reveal ancient stories and beliefs but also scars and graffiti of exposure to the elements and the school yard.

The Door Etchings
The Door Etchings co-existed alongside the Yuendumu Doors. In the year 2000, the remaining Warlipiri elders produced a series of etchings based on the original school doors.

Hunting/Gathering Exhibit
Hunting and gathering was the main method of sourcing food and drink for the Aboriginal Australias, with gathering being the role of women. In the exhibit was a watercolour painting produced by GF Angus in 1844. The painting depicts a women and child with bulbrush roots and manungkeri, an important source of food in much of south eastern Australia. The painting speaks more to me of the anthropological findings at the time rather than traditional indigenous art form, however I just loved the simplicity of the painting.

Albert Namatjira
I've mentioned in a previous post how much I like the work of Albert Nmatjira, so it was thrilling to see one in the flesh. The Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery is home to a Namatjira watercolour. The painting produced in 1941 shows Namatjira's own sacred lanscape of the James Ranges, part of the Western MacDonnells. The painting was one of the first to be bought by a major museum.

Below is a link to a behind the scenes video of the Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery at the SA Museum. It is very interesting and offers some background information on the Yuendumu School Doors.
http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/whatson/whattosee/permanent/aacg

SOURCES:
Yuendumu Door: http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/whatson/whattosee/permanent/aacg

Indigenous Art. Culture & Design - Week 10

Public Art

In our lecture this week we explored the notion of Aboriginal art, architecture and design in the public arena, and how the public arena embraces Aboriginal aesthetics, motifs,art, and design principals. Several examples of this were given including the mosaic at the forecourt of Parliament House in Canberra and the new designs featured on a fleet of Qantas Boeing 747-400 Jets.

Mosaic Forecourt Parliament House

The mosaic at the forecourt of Parliament House was designed by Papunya artist Michael Nelson Jagamara. The mosaic based on the Possum and Wallaby Dreaming is very appropriate as it is representational of a large group of people coming together at one meeting place to fulfill ceremonial obligations.

Also pictured below is the Boeing 747-400 Jets commissioned by Qantas. The fleet of three depict the Wunala Dreaming, the Nalanji Dreaming, and the Yananyi Dreaming. The decision made by Qantas to incorporate Aboriginal art in the design of their aircraft could be seen as being emblematic of how we use and embrace Aboriginal art to define who we are.

Wunala Dreaming

Nalanji Dreaming

Yananyi Dreaming

On a more local note, for the past two years, an Adelaide tram has been adorned in aboriginal motifs to help celebrate Reconciliation Week.

Adelaide Tram

SOURCES:
Mosaic Image: http://www.karrinyarra-artists.com/artists/23.html
All Qantas Images: http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/arts/aboriginal-art-in-unusual-places.html
Adelaide Tram Image: http://www.google.com.au/

Indigenous Art, Culture & Design - Week 9

In our lecture this week we had a guest presenter by the name of Nici Cumpston. Nici is a curator at the Art Gallery of South Australia and was responsible for curating the 'Desert Country' exhibition. The exhibition, which ran from October 2010 to January 2011 showcased works, drawn entirely from the extensive holdings of Aboriginal art from the Art Gallery of South Australia's pioneering collection. The exhibition was the first to chart the evolution of the Australian desert painting movement. A total of 95 artists were represented in the exhibition with 100 artworks being showcased.

Throughout my time viewing Indigenous art, I have found that I am drawn to artworks that display bold shapes and bright colours. Below are some of my favourite artworks that were displayed in the exhibition.