| Indigenous Australian Art refers to the art made | | | | 'orche pits,' or pigments made from clay, wood |
| by the original inhabitants of Australian continent | | | | ash, or animal blood. |
| and nearby islands like Torres Strait islands, also | | | | Genreso Body Painting - It is the earliest form of |
| called Indigenous or Aboriginal Australians. In | | | | Aboriginal Art, where people cover their bodies |
| traditional Aboriginal society, activities, such as | | | | with exquisite designs, mainly for traditional dances |
| dancing, singing, body decoration, weaving | | | | and ceremonies.o Rock Painting - Done on |
| baskets, sand drawing, or making sculptures are a | | | | boulders or walls of rock shelters and caves, this |
| part of their normal daily life. There is no concept | | | | is the oldest wing of Aboriginal Art. The earliest |
| of special person for these implements, as | | | | examples include Kimberley & Pilbara region |
| everyone is an artist. Aboriginal Art represents | | | | of West Australia, the Olary district of South |
| and symbolizes the world and beliefs of tribal | | | | Australia, and Tasmania in Central Australia.o Bark |
| people and is a vital part of their rituals and | | | | Painting - This painting is done on flattened bark, |
| ceremonies. The existence of Indigenous | | | | taken from Eucalyptus and other fibrous tree |
| Australians and their art is more than 125,000 | | | | species. Although the painting technique is modern, |
| years old. The descendants of these tribes still | | | | the traditional designs used are heavily inspired |
| form a significant percent of Australian population, | | | | from the Body Painting patterns.o Weaving - |
| keeping their traditional art and culture alive. | | | | Done on baskets, bags, headbands, balls, belts, |
| The Details | | | | loincloth, skirts, and other garments is popular |
| The myriad art various Aboriginal groups produce, | | | | among Aboriginal women. The material woven is |
| reflect the richness and the diversity of their | | | | bark from banyan or peanut trees and the hair of |
| culture and distinct differences in their social, | | | | women.o Rock Engravings & Carving - It is |
| cultural and linguistic customs. While in the central | | | | another ancient art employed in making jewelery |
| desert ground, drawing is the most important art | | | | & decorative shells, and to depict |
| style, rock painting and body painting are also | | | | mythological stories.o Papunya Tula or Dot Painting |
| popular throughout Australia. The styles, material, | | | | - A modern Indigenous art style, it uses dots to |
| and meanings are peculiar to each region | | | | hide the Symbolism in ancient stories done on |
| however. | | | | sand. This gives these stories a more permanent |
| Aboriginal Art often represents a 'dreamtime | | | | form, which can be traded in international |
| story,' using symbolic representation in meaningful | | | | markets. |
| colors. Concentric circles usually represent | | | | Conclusion |
| campfire, tree, hill, digging hole, waterhole, or | | | | New media, such as printmaking, fabric printing, |
| spring. While curved lines represent underground | | | | ceramics, and glassware now complements |
| water or rain, straight lines indicate travel. A "U" | | | | traditional arts & crafts. The modern |
| shaped figure generally represents a person, with | | | | techniques used in traditional designs and the |
| a smaller "U" signifying a child in similar context. | | | | increased interaction of indigenous and western |
| The metaphoric significance of icons is further | | | | societies have given Aboriginal people the ability to |
| clarified with the use of symbolic colors, such as | | | | express their culture to the world. |
| blue for water. The colors are often mined from | | | | |