Being acclaimed as the oldest and one of the most historic surviving civilisations in the world, the aboriginal is home to a very rich and intense culture that dates back over tens of thousands of years ago. Undoubtedly, the passage of time has brought about a slew of changes in the ancient rites, ideologies and traditions, yet the overall culture has managed to retain many of its traditional beliefs and practices.
Forms of Aboriginal Art
Art is one of the mainstays of indigenous culture, with many paintings, etchings and sculptures being created by artists over the passage of time. Painters and artists found inspiration for their works from the vast wealth of their ceremonial and religious practices. The aboriginal art took the form of colourful bodily decorations for important rituals as well as stunning scenes painted on tree barks, rocks, utensils, weapons and various sacred objects.
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Styles of Aboriginal Paintings
The aborigines had a wide variety of art styles, with different eras and regions experimenting with different styles. In general, the wide variety of art forms can be categorised into two broad artistic styles: naturalistic (figurative) and non-naturalistic (non-figurative). However, this is not a very accurate division, owing to the sheer variety of art available. Aboriginal art includes free style carvings, stencil sketches, charcoal drawings, beeswax diagrams, sand designs, implementation of feathers, feather down, etc.
Preservation of Aboriginal Art and Culture
In the contemporary era, organisations for the conservation of aboriginal culture and art are involved in taking concrete steps to promote the indigenous culture of Australia to new heights.
With the advent of these organisations and societies in the mainstream society, there has been a significant improvement in the conservation of aboriginal art forms in modern society. With the vast publicity this veritable treasure trove has received, aboriginal culture has made a deep mark on the map as a formidable world heritage.