Impressed by Aboriginal Arts

In the Art Gallery of NSW

On the 15th of October, the English for Academic Purpose (EAP) Class visited the Art Gallery of NSW.  The team was oriented about the traditional and contemporary arts of Australia’s indigenous people (Aboriginals). 

There is no written language for Aboriginals, so they have been telling their entire history by the medium of art.  Aboriginals art is likely to be the world’s first ever paintings.  They started painting on the human body, increasing it on to other materials like rocks, leaves, and barks.

Personally, I was overwhelmed by bark painting. This art has a remarkable history developed during thousands of years. Aboriginal art, particularly the bark painting dates back before this continent was explored.  I was impressed by the way they produce barks and other painting materials.  I observed how they are taking barks off the tree and making it flat by exposing to heat and keeping it under pressure for a long time until the bark get soak and plain. I was also delighted to know about this particular artwork by Mathaman Marik called “Mortuary Rites”. This painting shows the whole grief ceremonial following the death of a member of the family. If one looks closer, it is quite noticeable how aboriginal artist has dedicated a genuine talent to illustrate an event in such details.

Using only two pure naturally retrieved colors, sketching the land and shapes on the bark, and representing symbols of the incredible history of human is the art which brings simplicity and complexity together. The dots are aligned and created the implied lines. This illusionary took me back to thousands of year ago, deep into the ancient Aboriginal lifetime.