6) Traditional Aboriginal art requires authority, knowledge, association and recognition by the artist who produces the painting. Artists are only permitted to paint the stories and subjects that they are entitled to under traditional law.
Why non-Indigenous people can't do Aboriginal art: Remember a non-indigenous Australian (or any non Aboriginal person around the world) can never create an Aboriginal artwork because only people from specific parts of country can tell the story of that country.
Only an Aboriginal artist can produce Aboriginal art
Since a non-Indigenous artist is not from a particular tribe, that person cannot represent any form of Aboriginal art. But this does not mean that all other ethnicities are banned from creating their own artwork.
They are based on principles of responsibility and guide artistic practices to ensure respect for Indigenous Peoples and their knowledges.
All Aboriginal art is copyrighted. The moment an Aboriginal artist or author creates a work it is protected under the Australian Copyright Act 1968. Any subsequent sale of the work does not automatically endorse the copyright which remains with the author unless they decide otherwise.
Red, predominantly sourced from ochre, holds a unique position in Aboriginal art due to its many symbolic associations. It represents blood, which symbolises the ties between family members and the bonds within a community.
Taking Pictures
When it comes to caves and rock art sites, don't rush ahead and clamber over the rocks for a photo opportunity. Reproductions and photographs of deceased Indigenous people are absolutely prohibited. This is to protect specific Aboriginal knowledge that may not be open to everyone.
What are Cultural Protocols? Protocols refer to the value systems, customs and cultural practices that are important to identify a particular cultural group. Protocols are an important part of all cultures and provide guidance on how to treat and work with people in a respectful and useful way.
Aboriginal Art Prints
They are also usually more affordable and easier to ship around the world. To make sure they last the test of time however, you do need to invest in framing them properly. Keeping works on paper directly out of the sun and framed behind glass is recommended.
Indigenous arts are art created by the original people to inhabit a land: Australian Aboriginals, New Zealand's Maori people, Northwest Coastal people of the U.S., Meso and central America, the Amazon, the Artic, Asia and the Asia-Pacific are all examples of locations with indigenous traditions.
Example 1: Copying Aboriginal symbols
Because these symbols (concentric circles made with dotting, U shapes, etc) have many meanings, are sometimes sacred and are specific to Western Desert cultures, it is considered cultural sacrilege and theft to use them.
Cultural appropriation often represents a power imbalance when a member of the dominant culture uses specific cultural references, including craft and self-representation, from a minority or colonized culture (including Indigenous, racialized and newcomer communities) without explicit permission or collaboration.
To make direct eye contact can be viewed as being rude, disrespectful or even aggressive.To convey polite respect, the appropriate approach would be to avert or lower your eyes in conversation. Observe the other person's body language.
Your Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage is something that is personal to you. You do not need a letter of confirmation to identify as an Indigenous person.
Dots were used to in-fill designs. Dots were also useful to obscure certain information and associations that lay underneath the dotting. At this time, the Aboriginal artists were negotiating what aspects of stories were secret or sacred, and what aspect were in the public domain.
Indigenous Art is the artwork created by the Indigenous people (the traditional people) who come from the land.
If you acquire a piece of art on paper, you will probably want it framed. However, some purists continue to keep works on paper in drawers, pulling them out now and then to look. If you want it on the wall however, you must frame it, and the frame's primary purpose here is protective.
From $250 to $500, whatever your budget is, here you will find unique selection of authentic Indigenous paintings from Central Australia.
Copying Aboriginal Art
Images may not be reproduced for any reason without express permission from the artist.
It is inappropriate for images of sensitive sites to be viewed elsewhere, so taking any photos of these places is prohibited. But don't worry – culturally sensitive sites in the park are quite spread out, giving you plenty of opportunities to take amazing photos while respecting Anangu culture.
An ideal introduction to dot painting for children would be from a visiting Aboriginal Elder, Aunty or Uncle. Preferably over at least two visits in a year, so non-Indigenous children can experience a sense of “walking with” Indigenous people as allies, like Geoffrey Bardon.