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Aboriginal Artwork

One of the many ways that Aboriginal people tell stories and share messages is through artwork and painting. Indigenous artwork has been around about 20,000 to 30,000 years. Every piece of artwork is unique and tells its own story. These stories are often told to young children, elders and the next generation of indigenous community. Aboriginal artwork is displayed at galleries and many pieces have been sold. 

Albert Namatjira was a famous aboriginal artist. He was most known for his picture of waterholes, mountains and gum trees. 

Other types of aboriginal artwork include body art, stick art and dot art. When the aboriginals were the only people on the land there was no paint so they had to make it by crushing a rock called ochre and mixing it with water. The main colours that were used were black, yellow, red, white and brown. Indigenous artwork usually includes dots, stripes and squiggly lines which create symbols that can identify stories and meanings. The picture below might represent people sitting around a campfire with nature surrounding them. Indigenous artwork is an important and special part of Aboriginal culture. 

Sophie M, 5/6MG

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