Introduction to Aboriginal Art

1. Introduction to Aboriginal Art Spirituality and Symbolism

2. The Dreaming • ‘The Dreaming’ refers to the time when Aboriginal ancestral spirits emerged from and inhabited earth. • Ancestral beings came in both human and animal form, such as Lightning Men or the Rainbow Serpent.

3. Creation • The Aboriginal people believe spirit journeys created the physical environment like, rivers, mountains and the stars. • The spirits entrusted land, power, traditions and laws to the Aboriginal people.

4. Ancestral Spirits • The spirits returned to the supernatural world below the earth, where their lives gave power to significant sites. • The Aboriginal people can access the power of the ancestral beings through ceremony, song, ritual and art.

5. Symbols • Artworks have symbols which tell stories that are passed down between generations. • Individual people are connected to particular dreamings according to their family line. • Different dreamings are associated with different places, so interpretation of these symbols are personal.

6. Maps and Journeys • The art of the Aboriginal people can be viewed as an aerial ‘map’ of journeys across the land. • They use symbols to represent significant sites or events in their art.

7. William SandyDingo Dreaming 1983 • This represents the extensive desert area of the Pitjantjatjara homelands • The two large circles represent waterholes • These footprints represent the journeys of the dingo ancestors • The human footprints represent the major creation journey taken by two women from waterhole to waterhole across the desert

8. Painting Materials • Traditionally bark, skin, stones, wood and cave walls were painted. • Paint called ‘ochre’ was made by grinding rocks, clay, charcoal and dirt. • Brushes were made from sticks, feathers or human hair. • Modern Aboriginal artists also use canvas, paper, oil and acrylic paints.

9. Sally MorganMy Place 1986 • This modern image represents a journey and depicts the artists family history. • It is outlined by a rainbow serpent to represent strength and unity.

10. X-Ray Style • The x-ray style shows the inside and outside structure of its subject. • Here we can see the ‘outside’ or the outline of the crocodile, as well as lines ‘inside’ or on its body.

11. Your Task • Design an Aboriginal x-ray style aerial map. • It should represent the journey you have or will take around the school today. • Use symbols to represent significant places and join them together to tell a story.

12. Don’t forget your friends, the bus stop and where you have lunch!