At this time, the Aboriginal artists were negotiating what aspects of stories were secret or sacred, and what aspect were in the public domain. The dot painting technique gave some protection, allowing some elements of stories that should not be seen by the uninitiated to remain concealed.
The works were visual reminders of their own being. They painted land that they belonged to and the stories that are associated with those sites. In essence they were painting their identity onto the boards, as a visual assertion of their identity and origins.
Dot paintings are the visual stories of the Aboriginal people. Historically, Aboriginal people of central and western Australia created “paintings” on the sand using rocks, flowers, sticks, seeds, and feathers. These paintings were full of sacred symbols, images, and meaning.
Before Indigenous Australian art was ever put onto canvas the Aboriginal people would smooth over the soil to draw sacred designs which belonged to that particular ceremony. Body paint was also applied which held meanings connected to sacred rituals. These designs were outlined with circles and encircled with dots.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art is an expression of people's identity, culture, spirituality and relationships to Country. It tells stories of ceremony and Creation and connects people to ancestors and kin.
Dots were used to hide secret information: Dot painting in the main, began when the Aboriginal people became concerned that white man would be able to see and understand their sacred and private knowledge. The dots (sometimes called 'over-dotting') were used to obscure the secret iconography (symbols) underneath.
Not only is dot painting a great way to encourage creativity and self-expression, but it also provides an opportunity for kids to learn about the rich culture and history of the Aboriginal people.
A dot marks the beginning and the end of a line. Artists have also used the dot in their painting techniques, such as Pointillism, a painting method developed by the French artist Seurat. A line is a series of dots. There are many different types of lines: thick, thin, straight, curved, zig-zag etc.
Dots can be associated with ceremonial body painting and designs. They may also represent spiritual energy, protection, or the presence of ancestral beings during rituals and ceremonies.
White Australian artist is abused online for 'copying Aboriginal art' and 'stealing indigenous culture' by making traditional dot paintings. A young white artist who was abused on social media for selling Aboriginal-style dot paintings has apologised and admitted she was guilty of 'cultural appropriation'.
Patterns and Dots in Aboriginal Art
The style could be called abstract, in that it is symbolic rather than realistic. Using dots is a very ancient practice in Aboriginal culture through body paint. Dot paintings are most often visual stories and sometimes the dots might symbolize stars or sparks.
“Non-Indigenous artists who work with dots can work without appropriation. Within the dot, there's a whole world that can be created.
There is no written language for Aboriginal People so in order to convey their important cultural stories through the generations, it is portrayed by symbols/icons through their artwork. It is imperative to pass on information to preserve their culture. Indigenous art is centered on story telling.
The significance of the circle is evident for Aboriginal people in many ways. The circle is a sacred symbol of the interdependence of all forms of life; the circle is a key symbol in Native spirituality, family structure, gatherings of people, meetings, songs and dances (Pewewardy, 1995).
These pioneers of western desert art relied on a range of basic colours, often gouache or water-based paints, using black, white, yellow, red and brown tones. These colours were the ones most like the ochre earth pigments that had been used for ceremonial painting and rock art for thousands of years.
Aboriginal people perform Funeral ceremonies as understandably the death of a person is a very important event. The people often paint themselves white, wound or cut their own bodies to show their sorrow for the loss of their loved one.
The ellipsis ... (/əˈlɪpsɪs/, also known informally as dot dot dot) is a series of dots that indicates an intentional omission of a word, sentence, or whole section from a text without altering its original meaning.
dot in American English
a. a point used in orthography or punctuation; specif., the mark placed above an i or j in writing or printing. b. Ancient Mathematics. a decimal point; also, a point used as a symbol of multiplication.
Pointillism (/ˈpwæ̃tɪlɪzəm/, also US: /ˈpwɑːn-ˌ ˈpɔɪn-/) is a technique of painting in which small, distinct dots of color are applied in patterns to form an image.
Purpose: Develop your child's fine motor skills and strengthen grasp and manual control. Skills: Fine Motor Control, Hand Dexterity, Pincer Grasp(?)
Doing dot-to-dot activities really helps improve handwriting skills and are a valuable pre-writing teaching tool. Children learn how to create shapes, focus their pencil and learn how much pressure to apply to the paper.
Aboriginal artists also use pictographic symbols to depict real objects or living beings. Of course, the meanings can vary between different artists and tribes. Just by studying these symbols, you gain insight into their traditional way of life in Australia, with features like campsites and hunting boomerangs.
The use of symbols is an alternate way to write down stories of cultural significance, teaching survival and use of the land. Symbols are used by Aboriginal people in their art to preserve their culture and tradition. They are also used to depict various stories and are still used today in contemporary Aboriginal Art.
Aboriginal art is vibrant, diverse in form and context, and carries important cultural meaning. Throughout time, it has been used as a mode through which knowledge and stories are passed down through the generations. As an educational topic, it lends itself well to being explored in early childhood settings.