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/