• L’ARTE ABORIGENA AUSTRALIANA
È CONTEMPORANEA •

At the turn of December 2022 and January 2023 I had the immense fortune of spending three weeks in Perth, in Australia, where I was able to get closer to’Aboriginal art.

Il Western Australia, the state of which Perth is the capital, it is one of the richest on a cultural level, especially with regards to Aboriginal people.
Among the various museums I visited, l’Art Gallery of Western Australia and the WA Bardip Football Museum they were the ones who introduced me to Aboriginal art, corrente artistica a me completamente sconosciuta fino a quel momento.

The history of Aboriginal art begins a long time ago, nevertheless it is counted among the contemporary artistic currents. Let me tell you why.
I geometric patterns which we now admire on canvas, they were once depicted on rock walls, on the body or on ceremonial articles e, above all, drawn in the sand or on earth accompanied by songs or stories. Consider that there are sites in Australia where rock paintings date back at least 65.000 years ago. This makes Aboriginal people one of the oldest continuous cultures on the planet.

But when exactly was he born??

However, Aboriginal art on canvas and panel began only fifty years ago, precisely in the 1970s.

It was only in 1971, Indeed, That Geoffrey Bardon, a teacher who worked with Aboriginal children in Papunya, he noticed that Aboriginal men, as they told stories to others, they drew symbols in the sand.

He then encouraged them to put these stories on board and canvas, and from there the Aboriginal art movement began.

From that moment, Australian Aboriginal art has been labeled by experts as the most interesting contemporary art form of the 20th century.

You may now be wondering how I reacted the art market to this overseas introduction. Well, this new current seems to be truly appreciated by collectors and cultural institutions. Think that the most expensive work so far, “Warlugulong” dell’artista Tjapaltjarri, was sold in 2007 at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra for beyond 2 million dollars. 

Aboriginal art and cultural renaissance

Contemporary Aboriginal art has been a true incentive for the most remote Aboriginal communities, being in many places the only business providing a significant income. Today Aboriginal art is widespread and is produced in hundreds of remote communities across Australia and by urban Aboriginal artists.

Furthermore, the art movement contributed to strengthen culture and traditions in the Aboriginal society. Western admiration for Aboriginal art and our willingness to pay for it has helped Aboriginal people financially and, most importantly, given them prestige, greater confidence e, above all, respect.

We can say with certainty that supporting Aboriginal art has a secondary effect on support the language and culture of indigenous families who have chosen to live in remote places, linked to their ancestral lands.

As often happens, also in this case art takes on a role that goes beyond simple aesthetics. It acts as bridge between two cultures –quella Occidentale e quella aborigena– e contribuisce a generare comprensione, breaking down the barriers of prejudice.