27 January 2018 / leggypeggy

A wonderful look at Aboriginal art

Aboriginal art, art, artworks, Australian National Gallery, ceramics, totems

The Aboriginal Memorial

Close-up of a hollow-log coffin

Yesterday, 26 January, was Australia Day. It commemorates the day the First Fleet sailed into Port Jackson in 1788, and marks the beginning of British settlement.

Not surprisingly, it is considered Invasion Day by the indigenous people whose lives were permanently and, often cruelly, changed by the arrival of these 11 ships and their cargo of about 1400 people, more than half of them transported convicts.

In recent years, there’s been growing controversy as to whether 26 January is a suitable date to celebrate an occasion that adversely affected so many.

A variety of dates have been mentioned as a possible alternative, but I doubt there will be widespread change any time soon. Some communities have decided to celebrate other days.

Poor John and nephew, Tom, explore the ‘field’ of hollow-log coffins

In support of our indigenous population, Triple J, a popular national radio station, has changed the day they release their annual Hottest 100 album. The tracks, chosen by public vote, used to be aired on the 26th, but this year Triple J is playing the winning 100 tracks on the 27th. In fact, I’m listening to the countdown now. It’s on song 40, True Lovers by Holy Holy.

So I thought I’d mark today (the 27th) by sharing some of the amazing Indigenous artworks in our National Gallery. Almost 10 years ago, the building was renovated to create a new entrance and to significantly increase display space, particularly for the collection of Australian Indigenous art. It is said to be the largest such collection in the world.

Aboriginal textiles

Koprillia Day

Turbulent Spirit Child

Wallaby Story

One Old Man’s Dreaming

Let’s start with the first exhibit (shown at the top) you see when you enter by the not-so-new entrance on the ground floor—The Aboriginal Memorial, an installation of 200 hollow log ceremonial coffins from Central Arnhem Land. The work was created for the gallery to mark the Bicentenary of Australia, which marked 200 years of European settlement—hence 200 hollow log coffins.

The work was conceived by two Aboriginal people and created by 43 Aboriginal artists. It was commissioned by the gallery and initially shown at the Biennale of Sydney in 1988. It was then moved to Canberra for permanent display.

An explanation card at the gallery says ‘The Aboriginal Memorial marks an important time in the history of Australian society. While it is intended as a war memorial, it is also a historical statement, a testimony to the resilience of the Aboriginal people and culture in the face of great odds, and a legacy for future generations of Australians.’ Another card lists all the participating artists.

Alice Springs country

Finke River

Mt Hermannsburg by Elton Wirri

Then it’s time to head upstairs to see the varied collections.

One of the first items is the fish trap. The gallery also commissioned this 12-metre-long piece. It’s a contemporary representation of a fish trap from the Maningrida Aboriginal community.

Then come the pieces from early Western Desert (1971–74). These cover textiles, paintings and ceramics.

Fish Trap fabricated by Urban Art Projects, Queensland

Seven sisters by Ken Tjungkara

A small gallery is devoted almost entirely to works by Albert Namatjira and his fellow artists from Hermannsburg. Namatjira’s landscapes highlighted the rugged geological features of the land in the background, and the distinctive Australian flora in the foreground with very old, stately and majestic white gum trees surrounded by twisted scrub.

His colours were similar to the ochres that his ancestors had used to depict the same landscape, but his style was appreciated by Europeans because it met the aesthetics of western art.

Then it’s on to a couple of other rooms with an array of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander works. As I look back through the gallery pics I took during 2017, I find that some of my favourite pieces were photographed in earlier years and are on a different computer, so I’ll do another post on them. Maybe next year on 27 January.

In the meantime, I hope you like these images. I have lots more to share. I’ll finish off today with two images that reflect how our Aboriginal citizens have been treated. As you can see, they were featured in countless ashtrays.