Aboriginal Art And Culture Are Linked Together
Aboriginal Art and Culture are tied together by life.
For most Aboriginal people their daily lives are dictated by their culture and there cultural obligations unless they are living in a city or suburb and have consciously left their culture .
Their Art depicts certain aspects of their daily life even if they are not actually experiencing it that day.
Aboriginal people do not have a written language so their stories and history is recorded in their art.
Most all of the stories have both a dance and a song which also helps to tell the story and often is part of the painting.
The paintings may be done traditionally in ochre, on bark or in acrylic on canvas.
The artists often sit together to paint and sing the stories of the paintings together.
Many parts of these stories are forbidden to be told to women, men or outsiders and are called secret men’s or secret women’s business.
This information is sensitive to their cultural beliefs.
Often some of this information is put into paintings but unfortunately we are unable to see it because of our complete lack of understanding of their culture.Some feel a need to record their history and their dreaming as that gives them purpose and importance.
It also provides recognition and allows them to share what is valuable to them and to see how their work is prized by others.
Since the early 1970’s when their art was first being commercially being sold they have learned the value of their stories to non Aboriginal people.
Aboriginal Art and its culture are inseparable.
Aboriginal art is also what is helping to maintain their culture by providing them an income while recognizing the value in what they are producing.
Even if we do not fully understand Aboriginal Art and Culture we can appreciate the artistic merit of it.
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